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Sugar factory run by women coop gets award
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Sunday, 01 May, 2005, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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By Ronita Torcato
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Maharashtra has the distinction of being the place of the world's first ever sugar factory owned and managed by women. Located in Kolhapur, the Indira Gandhi Bhartiya Mahila Vikas Sahakan Sakhar Karkhana Ltd has an active involvement of approximately 3,500 shareholders and is the first co-operative set up with the aim of enhancing the status of women. Vijaymala B Desai, a Home Science graduate from Gujarat and a BEd degree holder from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, is the founder and chairperson of this pathbreaking endeavour in the field of rural entrepreneurship.
Significantly, the karkhana is the first project that implements the policy on women as declared by the Maharashtra Government to bring into existence the concept of rural society based on agro - industry. A former Joint Secretary of the all-India Mahila Congress Committee, Ms Desai has traversed the length and breadth of the state as also various parts of India in a bid to understand the needs of the rural populace and explore the potential areas for economic development.
Plans on the anvil include drip and lift irrigation schemes, an ayurvedic medical research centre, a co-operative kamghar society, a school and a co-operative of forestry goods owned and organised by the women for the welfare of children.
The Kolhapur women's sugar co-op was established after overcoming numerous constraints. A welcome boost came earlier this year when Ms Desai received on their behalf, the 12th Indian Merchants Chamber-Ladies Wing Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar award for Rural Entrepreneurship. The award consists of a cash amount of Rs 1,50,000, a citation and a certificate. The sugar co-op has also been recommended for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records by the Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Sakhar Karkkana Sangh Ltd, Mumbai.
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