Four women entrepreneurs were honoured by the Working Women’s Forum (India) (WWF)-Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW) with the Padma Shree Jaya Arunachalam Annual Excellence Awards on Saturday.
The recipients are Shanthakumari Sekar, who runs a provisions store, Sasikala Krishnamoorthy, who owns a sweet-making business, Malathi Kannan, who raises livestock, and Nafees Zahra Mohammadiliys, a pottery maker.
Nandini Azad, president of WWF-ICNW, said various women had received loans ranging from ₹200 to ₹50,000 in the last 37 years. “From the informal sector, many women have worked very hard and, now, their children are employed in the formal sector. A few decades ago, I started the idea of teaching women, using charts and roleplay, about their importance and how they contributed to their family and society. It encouraged them to a great extent, and it revolutionised the movement,” she said.
Ms. Azard said that with the efforts that they had taken, the lives of several women had transformed over the years. “Many who were very poor have now drastically progressed in life. These awardees are role models and have overcome oppression and poverty,” she added.
Ms. Krishnamoorthy recalled how she started her business using a loan of ₹7,000 from the WWF-ICNW. “Today, I provide employment for seven persons. I struggled to pay a rent of ₹1,500 then, but today I pay a rent of ₹18,000 and pay my employees too. This wouldn’t be possible without the help of this organisation,” she said.
Parvathi, treasurer of the WWF, Anajalakshi, CEO, ICNW, Ms. Sekar, Ms. Kannan and Ms. Mohammadiliys also spoke.
Published - March 08, 2025 08:03 pm IST
