HCCB partners with Telangana to empower women entrepreneurs
The partnership will strengthen women’s self-help groups through training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and retail management.
INDIA – Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), one of India’s leading FMCG companies, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Telangana to support and expand Mahila Shakti Canteens, an initiative focused on empowering women through self-help groups (SHGs).
The collaboration will enable HCCB to co-design and implement targeted Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs that strengthen the capacity of women entrepreneurs operating Mahila Shakti Canteens.
As part of the agreement, HCCB will work alongside experienced Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and implementation partners to deliver structured training in areas such as financial and digital literacy, retail management, sales, and marketing.
The initiative is designed to cover 100 Mahila Shakti Canteens across Telangana and train more than 1,000 women entrepreneurs associated with SHGs.
The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Government of Telangana, will facilitate alignment with district development plans and ensure convergence with existing state and central government schemes.
SERP will also oversee beneficiary selection, stakeholder coordination, and community mobilization to strengthen the program’s reach and sustainability.
Divya Devarajan, IAS, CEO of SERP, emphasized the transformative role of Mahila Shakti Canteens, noting: “Mahila Shakti Canteens are symbols that stand for economic empowerment and independence for women. Beyond serving nourishing meals, these canteens provide rural women with opportunities for self-reliance, building their independence, and fostering entrepreneurship.”
“Our partnership with HCCB will enable and empower the women entrepreneurs to be self-reliant with the necessary skills and training.”
Himanshu Priyadarshi, Chief Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability Officer at HCCB, said: “We believe entrepreneurship is the foundation of resilient and inclusive growth. As we sign this MoU with SERP, we reaffirm our commitment to community development and continuing our investment in Telangana’s future growth and prosperity. We’re confident that this partnership will have a lasting, positive impact on communities, serving as a model for holistic development.”
The initiative forms part of HCCB’s larger CSR platform, Project SHINE, which focuses on five thematic areas: environment and disaster management, health and hygiene, inclusive growth through women’s empowerment, education and skill development, and strengthening communities for sustainable futures.
Through Project SHINE, HCCB has already implemented initiatives such as waste management, health and hygiene awareness programs, Anganwadi modernization, smartboard installations in schools, and skill development sessions for women and youth.
To date, these CSR efforts have positively impacted more than 100,000 individuals across Telangana.
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