Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India

What Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India does

Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India (TRRAIN) is a registered public charitable trust founded in 2011 by B.S. Nagesh and headquartered in Mumbai, India. The organization was created in response to qualitative and quantitative research showing that front-line retail workers in India felt neither pride, respect, nor professional progression, and it operates on pillars of Pride, Respect, Inclusion, and Development. TRRAIN's service portfolio centers on two flagship vocational skilling programs: TRRAIN Pankh (launched 2011), a 45-day retail training and placement program for Persons with Disabilities aged 18-32, and TRRAINHer Ascent (launched 2018), a 30-day program for young women aged 18-27 from marginalized backgrounds. Both programs culminate in NSDC and RASCI certification and feed into a dedicated placement team that matches graduates with employers in retail and allied sectors.

The underlying technology stack is minimal. TRRAIN is a human-led service-delivery organization with no proprietary software platform, mobile app, API, or AI/ML components disclosed. Its "infrastructure" is operational rather than technical: 140+ training centers across 13+ states, a 40+ NGO partner network that handles community mobilization, and 500+ employer relationships spanning retail, QSR, e-commerce, logistics, and warehousing. Notable employer placement partners include Reliance, Shoppers Stop, YUM (McDonald's), Zomato, Café Coffee Day, Skechers, Westside, Sapphire Foods, Innov Source, Home Centre, and IIFL Insurance, among others. The organization complements its training programs with recognition and awareness events including the TRRAIN Retail Awards, Retail Employees' Day, and the Ekam All-Inclusive Summit.

TRRAIN's revenue model is exclusively donation-based. The trust holds 12A and 80G certifications under Indian tax law, enabling corporate CSR donations, corporate program sponsorships, and individual contributions, with donors receiving tax exemption benefits. The organization does not charge beneficiaries for training or placement services. Corporate CSR support comes from a diverse set of retail-adjacent funders including Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, Marks & Spencer London, PUMA, Metro Brands, BigBasket, Landmark Group, House of Anita Dongre, QUESS Corp, and Sapphire Foods, alongside financial-sector partners YES Bank/Yes Foundation, Mahindra Logistics, and DBS Bank India. Financials (revenue, budget) are not publicly disclosed, and the organization is not investment-funded, with no equity, debt, or grant funding rounds recorded.

Name

Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India

Legal name

Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India

Website

https://trrain.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TRRAIN is a Mumbai-based nonprofit founded in 2011 by B.S. Nagesh that delivers vocational training and job placement for Persons with Disabilities and marginalized young women, placing graduates with 500+ retail and allied-sector employers across 13+ Indian states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Livelihood Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Disability inclusion programs
• Women livelihood skilling
• Retail employment placement
• CSR livelihood partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Moradabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. CSR Donations and Corporate Partnerships: TRRAIN operates as a registered public charitable trust (12A, 80G certified) that generates revenue through corporate CSR donations, program support from companies, and individual donations. The organization conducts livelihood programs funded by corporate partners seeking to fulfill their social responsibility mandates.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TRRAIN is a registered public charitable trust that delivers vocational training and job placement programs for Persons with Disabilities (TRRAIN Pankh) and young women from marginalized backgrounds (TRRAINHer Ascent) in India's retail and allied sectors. Programs include 30-45 days of classroom and on-the-job training, NSDC and RASCI certification, employer sensitization, and dedicated placement support through a network of 140+ training centers and 500+ employer partners. Complementary events such as TRRAIN Retail Awards, Retail Employees' Day, and the Ekam All-Inclusive Summit promote pride, respect, and inclusion across the retail industry.

Product overview

TRRAIN (Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India) is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of vocational training, employment placement, and recognition programs focused on creating sustainable livelihoods. Its core offerings consist of two flagship skilling programs: TRRAIN Pankh (training and job placement for Persons with Disabilities) and TRRAINHer Ascent (skill training for young women from marginalized backgrounds). These are complemented by awareness and recognition events including the TRRAIN Retail Awards, Retail Employees' Day, and Ekam - All Inclusive Summit. All programs provide NSDC and Retailers Association Skill Council of India (RASCI) certification upon completion and focus on placement in the retail and allied sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TRRAIN Pankh A 45-day vocational training and job placement program for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) aged 18-32 (minimum 10th pass) covering retail skills, communication, life skills, and employability skills, with NSDC and RASCI certification and dedicated employer placement support.
• TRRAINHer Ascent A 30-day skill training and placement program for young women aged 18-27 from humble or marginalized backgrounds (minimum 12th pass, NEET) covering retail skills, communication, life skills, and employability skills, with NSDC and RASCI certification and dedicated placement mentors.
• TRRAIN Retail Awards An annual recognition event celebrating retail associates who deliver outstanding customer service, building industry pride and visibility for frontline retail workers.
• Retail Employees' Day An annual industry-wide celebration that recognizes and honors retail employees, fostering respect, dignity, and inclusion across the retail workforce.
• Ekam - All Inclusive Summit A summit convening corporate, nonprofit, and policy stakeholders to advance disability inclusion, diversity hiring, and inclusive workplace practices in retail and allied sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64,828+ lives transformed through livelihood programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertification partner providing skill certification endorsement for TRRAINHer Ascent and TRRAIN Pankh program graduates, validating their job-readiness through NSDC certification standards.
• Retailers Association Skill Council of India (RASCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertification partner providing retail-specific skill certification for program graduates through mid-term and end-term assessments.
• YES Bank / Yes FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSR implementation partner focused on skill development and gender equity. Extended full support to TRRAIN for empowering young women and their inclusion in economic development through skilling 700 young women.
• Mahindra Logistics Limited (MLL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSR partner for PwD and women skill development and employability. Trained 147 women and PwD beneficiaries during their association with TRRAIN, strengthening D&I hiring.
• DBS Bank India LtdmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSR partner supporting sustainable livelihood opportunities for women and PwD. Employees engaged as volunteers conducting financial literacy and career guidance sessions.
• Jewelex India Pvt. Ltd.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSR partner focusing on employability of youth with special needs (deaf, mute, orthopedically challenged) through TRRAIN Pankh, with commitment to offer job opportunities.
• Various NGO Partners (40+)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal NGO partners including Aadarana, Abhivrudhhi, AHYS, ANA, Arise, Ashadeepa, Cottolengo, and others that work with marginalized PwDs and young women across India. They conduct mobilization drives, identify needy trainees, and provide community connections.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC): Government-backed umbrella body coordinating India's skilling ecosystem and certifying skilling providers. Functions as TRRAIN's certification partner (per data), so comparable as a sector orchestrator rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• EnAble India: Bangalore-headquartered NGO delivering skills training, job placement, and employer sensitization for persons with disabilities across India. Comparable to TRRAIN Pankh on the PwD employment focus, training-to-placement model, and use of corporate partnerships.
• Quest Alliance: India-based nonprofit delivering skilling and livelihood programs for underprivileged youth including young women. Comparable to TRRAIN on the structured skilling-plus-placement model, employer partnership approach, and use of NGO mobilization networks.
• National Association for the Blind (NAB) India: Long-established Indian nonprofit providing vocational training and employment support, particularly for visually impaired persons. Overlaps with TRRAIN's Pankh program in serving PwDs with training-and-placement services, though with a stronger specialization in visual impairment.
• Youth4Jobs Foundation: India-based nonprofit providing vocational training and job placement specifically for rural and underprivileged youth with disabilities across sectors including retail, BPO, and hospitality. Highly comparable to TRRAIN's Pankh model in target beneficiary, training-to-placement approach, and corporate employer partnerships.
• Magic Bus India Foundation: India-based NGO providing livelihood and skilling programs for underprivileged youth transitioning into employment. Comparable to TRRAIN on the youth-skilling-and-placement model, CSR-funded operations, and corporate employer partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Pratham Education Foundation: One of India's largest NGOs operating across education and vocational skilling at national scale. Comparable to TRRAIN on the large-scale skilling-for-employment model and CSR partnerships, but with much broader sector and beneficiary scope than TRRAIN's PwD-and-women retail focus.
• National Skill Development Mission: Government of India flagship skilling initiative covering all sectors at national scale. Comparable to TRRAIN as a larger institutional player in the same vocational skilling space, though TRRAIN is a niche specialist focused on PwDs and marginalized women in retail.

Emerging players

• SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association): Large Indian women's livelihood organization focused on self-employed women in informal sectors. Adjacent to TRRAINHer Ascent on the marginalized women beneficiary focus, but operates more in self-employment and micro-enterprise than wage-employment placement.
• ActionAid India: India arm of a global federation delivering women's empowerment and livelihood programs. Overlaps with TRRAIN on gender-focused livelihood creation and CSR-funded delivery, though with a broader thematic and geographic mandate than retail-specific skilling.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/TRRAIN
• Facebookfacebook.com/trrain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trrain
• Instagraminstagram.com/trrain_org
• Xx.com/trrainindia

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India