Amazon India bets big on worker welfare with ₹2,800 crore investment

Amazon India announced plans to invest over ₹2,800 crore (approximately $300 million) to bolster associate safety, health, and financial well-being while simultaneously expanding its logistics network across the country.

The announcement comes as part of Amazon’s sweeping commitment to pour more than $35 billion into India by 2030, with this particular tranche targeting the people who power its warehouses and delivery routes.

At the centre of the investment is a suite of associate welfare programmes that Amazon says will benefit tens of thousands of workers and over 200,000 community members.

The company will scale up Project Ashray, its network of air-conditioned rest stops for delivery associates, beyond the current 100 locations in cities like Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Mumbai. The facilities offer clean washrooms, drinking water, charging stations, and first-aid support, currently serving over 150,000 delivery associates every month.

Amazon also plans to expand Sushruta, a health and wellness programme for long-haul truck drivers and their families, alongside a new initiative focused on mental health and ergonomic care. Free health check-ups through nationwide medical camps will extend access to preventive screenings covering eye health, dental, BMI, and physician consultations.

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On the financial security front, the Samriddhi programme will help associates enrol in government schemes, including Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, as well as e-Shram cards and pension programmes across seven states.

The company is also upgrading its Group Mediclaim and Group Personal Accident insurance policies for delivery associates, which it describes as among the most comprehensive in the sector.

Children of associates won’t be left out either. The Pratidhi scholarship programme provides funding and mentorship for children from Class 3 through Class 12, including those with disabilities. Amazon awarded 5,000 such scholarships in 2025 alone.

Expanding the Delivery Network

Beyond worker welfare, Amazon is investing heavily in infrastructure. The company plans to expand fulfilment centres, sortation centres, and delivery stations, with a particular focus on tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

Quick commerce is a major growth target. Amazon Now, the company’s 10-minute delivery service, launched in 2025, has already scaled to over 300 micro-fulfilment centres. Amazon now plans to more than double that footprint, both deepening its presence in existing cities and entering new ones.

Technology will play a key role in the expansion. Amazon plans to deploy AI and machine learning tools to flag unsafe driving behaviours, prompt rest breaks, and assess route complexity to distribute workloads more fairly among delivery partners. Updates to the Driver app will also improve navigation for hard-to-find addresses, earnings transparency, and workflow simplicity.

The 2026 investment follows a ₹2,000 crore (~$233 million) spend in 2025, which resulted in 17 new fulfilment centres, six sortation centres, and 75 last-mile delivery stations being launched across India.

“At the heart of this network are our people, and we remain committed to raising the bar on associate safety, health, and financial well-being,” said Abhinav Singh, VP of Operations at Amazon India and Australia.