March 08 2016, 14.32 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
Ludhiana, March 7, 2016: On International Women's Day, the Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organizations(FICO) has started its `Women Entrepreneurs Cell’ and Mrs Mridula Jain has been nominated as Head of this newly created cell.
It may be mentioned here that Mrs.Mridula Jain, as Chairperson of Shawl Club of India has worked a lot for betterment of the shawl industry.
Interestingly, FICO has 20 women entrepreneurs.
Mr.K.K.Seth (Chairman) and S.Gurmeet Singh Kular (President) of FICO have congratulated Mrs Jain on her nomination.
Know about Mrs Mridula Jain:
Mridula Jain, born into a family of professionals & married into family of businessmen retained her parental genes even in the changed atmosphere after has marriage. She had done her graduation in science & math’s with a degree in B.Ed before her marriage. But she continued her studies even afterwards. She completed a degree in post graduation in English literature. During the time her two sons were born.
She did work from home for 10 long years teaching school students the subjects she specialized in. This was due to the fact she wanted to be with her sons while they were growing up. But her inner urge of entrepreneurship took shape when she decided to work out of home now that her kids were young school going boys.
A creative urge stuck her when she realized the importance given to Pashmina & Toosh shawls which were becoming a rarity & hardly affordable to the ordinary women. That was the time she threw a challenge to her friends, “I will create something that will make you forget Pashmina & Toosh.”
So in 1987 Shingora shawls were born. It was with eight handlooms she started her unit. She started marketing her creations with her husband’s help. Since she had created innovative designs with mirror work, hand painting, and Phulkari Emb on shawls the response was immediate. She created a totally new look in conventional kulu shawl by weaving beautiful mixtures of flowery pattern intermingled with checks & stripes in bold new colors.
Being smart elegant and warm, they caught the fancy of women and well considered the “in thing.” for the fashion conscious women.
Her next target was the Wool Woolens Export Promotion Council. After convincing the lady head of this Govt. Body to promote shawls for export, she was lucky enough to be sent to tour and study the European market for shawls. There was no looking back as the participation in European International Fairs opened Pandora box for Shingora as well as for the whole shawl industry.
Mrs. Mridula Jain, as Chairperson of Shawl club of India an Association of Wool Mark licensees has worked for the industry Shawl, in various important issues.
She got the very important reservation act for Shawls manufacturing only in handloom amended so that shawls could be woven on Power Looms and Electronic Looms also. This step again opened up flood gates for production facilities of shawls as huge quantity could be woven to be able to entertain orders for export to Europe, U.S. and Japan etc.
This step was essential as America and European stores look for quantities whenever a product is in demand.
Now, she is mostly working with various ministries in the Govt. to resolve the problems being faced by the Shawls Sectors from time to time.
She is at this time a member of Steering Committee of Handloom & Handicraft Sector for 12th Five Year Plan in the Planning Commission.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Mridula Jain was honored with different awards both at State and National levels. She received Mahila Udyog Ratna in 1993, Women Entrepreneur of the year in 1994, State award of the Best Entrepreneur in 1995, Award for outstanding window display in Ludhiana by International Wool Secretariate in 1998, Mochpura Spreme Shawl Association’s award in 2001, Mahila Navrattan Award by International Friendship Spciety on India in 1998, Wool Mark Company’s Award in 2003, Award of Honour on International Women’s Day 2008 by Social Security & Child Development Department Punjab, Z TV Uddami Sanmaan award 2013, Best Woman Entrepreneur Exporter Award by ECGC – Dun & Bradstreet Exporters' Excellence Award 2015, Award in appreciation of service to Industries by Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal, President of Shiromani Akali Dal etc. The export and the sale of company grew from meager 8 Lac in the first year to 90 crores after 28 years of her laborious years.
Now, the family run company has professionals taking care of different departments.
The Shingora Textiles Limited now boasts of totally integrated unit, does have the most modern in house weaving unit, dyeing, washing, finishing, printing, cutting and stitching facilities.
It is an ISO 9000 and SA 8000 accredited Company.
