The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Women entrepreneurs to replicate their success in Ranipet

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Tuesday, Nov 17, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Women entrepreneurs to replicate their success in Ranipet

N. Anand

CHENNAI: Having enabled women entrepreneurs to taste success in running medium-scale units in Tiruchi with the help of BHEL, the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Tamil Nadu (WEAT) plans to replicate its success story in Ranipet.

For the last five months, 42 women entrepreneurs have been carrying out job works for the BHEL Tiruchi boiler unit. So far, they have secured and executed about 10 orders valued at Rs.50 lakh.

Talking to The Hindu, WEAT secretary M. Mallika said: “All these 12 units are managed and administered by women entrepreneurs, while drawing and cutting of sheets are done by male workers. The idea to set up all-women entrepreneur unit was mooted by N. Manimekalai, Director of Women Studies, Bharatidasan University. However, it took nearly two years to convince and secure orders from BHEL.”

“These women entrepreneurs have excelled even during the times of recession and BHEL Tiruchi has promised to support them till 2015. Seeing their growth story, BHEL Ranipet is willing to help others,” said Ms. Manimekalai.

MSME Development Institute, Chennai, and WEAT Chennai chapter have organised a meeting here on Wednesday to help about 100 women entrepreneurs from Chennai, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, Vellore and Chengalpattu set up engineering and fabrication units.

Officials from BHEL (Ranipet), Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation and Canara Bank are willing to share the information.

“Like in Tiruchi, we are planning to float 25 units in Ranipet. It will be on a partnership basis so that it will give the much needed confidence and financial strength to women entrepreneurs. A private firm has offered 18 acres to set up factories in Ranipet,” said Ms. Manimekalai.

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