GCCI honours women entrepreneurs

The Women’s Wing of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) presented awards to five outstanding women entrepreneurs on Friday. The awards were given away by Governor Sundar Singh Bhandari and State Industries Minister Sureshchandra Mehta.

The Outstanding Business Performance Award 1999-2000 for Women Entrepreneurs was presented to Smriti A Dagur, proprietor, Sonar Plast Industries Pvt Ltd, Chhatral, for her noteworthy achievements in the field of manufacturing of EPE liners; to Seema Parimu Mehta of Sparkle Granites, Ahmedabad, in the field of exports of granite tiles and other stone products; and to Bharti A Kathrani of Raghukul Cotton and Oil Pvt Ltd, Morbi, in the field of ginning and pressing.

Besides, Professor Asha Baxi, chairperson, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), was felicitated for her contribution to fashion education and the industry in India, during her work for the last 13 years at NIFT’.

Sandhya Arun Patel, was felicitated for her performance in public relations and marketing in the new Life Insurance Business in the Western zone.

According to the citation, Patel has become a qualifier of ’Million Dollar Round Table of Agents’ by putting more than Rs 4.5 crore sum assured and more than Rs 30 lakh of premium.

Speaking at the awards presentation, the Governor said India could become a better market if the purchasing power of the people improved.

He said the technology being adopted nowadays was one of labour saving. One reason behind it could be the bitter experience of the trade unions, he said.

Bhandari said that, however, there was a need to have labour intensive industries without compromising with their efficiency.

"If we are not able to consume the products manufactured in India, then it is impossible to have successful global trade," he said.

Benjamin Bassin, Ambassador of Finland to India, said economic equality between men and women was more important than equality under legislation.

He said the position of women in Finland was equal to men. Industries Minister Suresh Mehta, said though the growth rate of Gujarat at 7.9 percent was higher than that of Germany at five per cent, the growth rate of women in industry Gujarat was on the decline.

Adding, the Government would provide incentives to women in sectors like garments, gems and jewellery, and food processing. Moreover, the Government was working towards providing infrastructure, education and financial help to women to set up industries, he said.

Compiled from local news media