Shaila Amrute conferred IMC Jankidevi Bajaj award

Mumbai, Jan 7 (UNI) Shaila Arwind Amrute, a woman entrepreneur from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, who made a noteworthy contribution to developing business entrepreneurship over a period of three decades through horticulture, fruit and food processing, agriculture and agro enterprises, was presented the coveted 'Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar 2007' here today.

The award was given to her by the IMC Ladies Wing at the 15th annual ceremony.

The award, which comprises a cash award of Rs 3,00,000, a citation and a certificate, was presented to her by Dr Vandana Shiva, Director of Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology.

Ms Amrute started Utkarsha Mahila Mandal--an organisation addressing various concerns of the village women and children. She believes and practises knowledge transfer and ultilization of natural resources, besides practising waste management.

While receiving the award, a visibly moved Ms Amrute said ''I am honoured to receive this award and there have been previous 14 recepients of this award and you can know more about them through the book 'Grassroot Divas'. I have worked in the village where there is no nursery or Montessari school and the children who go to school show no progress. We did not know where to start. I thank my family for being there for me. This award inspires me to do more work.'' Dr Shiva said ''I think we should stop calling women the weaker sex. I am pleased to be here as this award is for women and implies women's empowerment.'' The IMC Ladies Wing instituted the Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar in 1993 in memory of Padma Vibhushan Smt Jankidevi Bajaj, who had involved herself in the movement of rural women entrepreneurship.

The Ladies Wing of the Indian Merchants' Chamber is a professional women's organisation in Western India comprising around 1,600 members representing corporate leaders, women entrepreneurs, professionals, managers and housemakers amongst others.

The wing recognises outstanding contribution by women in a variety of fields and presents Woman of the Year award annually and Woman Achiever in the field of Banking and Finance every alternate year.

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