A vision to empower women

'Women in the Forefront', a programme to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST women was held by Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Telangana

Chapter on the occasion of its 14th Foundation Day in Hyderabad

Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Telangana Chapter on the occasion of its 14th Foundation Day organised a programme "Women in the Forefront", a one full day event to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST women here in the city on Saturday in Hyderabad.

Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, ITE & C, Government of Telangana was the chief guest at the closing ceremony.

Addressing the 200 plus women entrepreneurs he said that DICCI has grown as a national body in a short span of just 14 years. He urged DICCI office bearers to work towards making it much more efficient body.

Speaking further, Jayesh told that 50 per cent of population is women. But there is a meager eight per cent of total 70,000 SMEs exist in the state are headed by women. Women entrepreneurship needs to be encouraged.

"When I was TSIIC, we have reserved 22 per cent plots in industrial parks for SC/ST women entrepreneurs. But not more than 3 per cent of them were utilised by Dalit women entrepreneurs.

When women are put first, before all, prosperity comes to all. This was the theme of the GES Summit held sometime ago. It holds good for ever. Dalit women entrepreneurs need to be encouraged," he told the gathering.

He urged 'Women Wing' of DICCI to collaborate with 'WE Hub', the first-of-its-kind and only State-run platform for women entrepreneurs.

Empowering women is not just a moral responsibility, but it is the need of the hour. The 'WE Hub' vision is to empower women and induce the necessary skill to make them become independent, he informed.

DICCI which was founded fourteen years ago on April 14, 2005, has become an industrial body to reckon developing SC/St Business Leadership Aruna Dasari, head of Women Wing local DICCI body informed.

There are some big industry lead and industry managed bodies such as CII- 'Confederation of Indian Industry' which is 124-years-old; FICCI —'The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry' is 92-years-old; ASSOCHAM—'The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India' is 98-years-old.

But, DICCI is founded just 14 years ago is now stands fourth after these organisations in the country informed Narra Ravi Kumar, national working president, DICCI.

DICCI has 10,000 members with presence in every state from North to South and East to West across the country. Out of these ten thousand members, there are 20 companies whose turnover exceeds little over Rs 1000 crore and 150 members own companies whose turnover is over Rs 100crore.

All these were born in poor families without any connections and mentors informed Narra Ravi Kumar.

"These successful SC/ST entrepreneurs are not the products of welfare schemes of government that come to us because of communities that we belong to. We need our dignity. We have all the capabilities to be job givers and tax papers," shared Narra Ravi Kumar

"Women do well at home front in the back end. But we want them to come forefront, do well and get identity. That is why we titled this meeting, "Women in the forefront", shared Narra Ravi Kumar.

"Women are born entrepreneurs. Women are multi-taskers. Women are management experts. Women have all the ingredients in them to become successful entrepreneurs. What they need now is proper direction," said Seema Kamble, mentor of Women Wing of DICCI.

"Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar was a visionary. He spoke about equal status to women in 1944, many years before a movement on the issue began in 1975," she informed.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest, Vanita Datla, former CII AP chairperson and vice chairperson of Elico Ltd, a 55-year-old company said, "It took 124 years for CII to think of putting women in forefront, DICCI, a very young body is already thinking about it.

New Century women must come forefront. All industry bodies are male dominated. The young DICCI is inviting you to take centre stage, grab the opportunity."

Giving personal experience Vanitha told, "Not more than 1 per cent property all over the world is registered in the name of women. The total property all over the world is registered and owned by men only. This must change. Women must come to centre stage."