31st FLO Annual Session India’s Inclusive Growth Story: Skilling & Entrepreneurship of Women

The 31st Annual Session of FLO was organized on April 8 & 9, 2015 at FICCI, New Delhi on the theme ‘India’s Inclusive Growth Story: Skilling & Entrepreneurship of Women’. In attendance were aver 200 members from 12 Chapters of FLO pan India.

On the eve of the Annual Session on 8 April 2015, Ms. Poonam Mahajan, Member of Parliament and Mr. Sundeep Bhutoria, Social Activist & Culturist, felicitated five persons of Indian origin with the Women Achievers Awards 2015-16.

The five recipients of this prestigious award were Rt. Hon. Baroness Sandip Verma, Minister of Energy & Climate Change, Govt. of UK, London, United Kingdom; Ms. Anuradha Duggal, Founding Partner of F Cubed, New York, USA; Ms. Janvi Gaur, Karmic Healer, Dubai, UAE; Ms. Priyanka Gill, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, POPxo.com, London, United Kingdom and Ms. Anurima Kumar, Founder & Artistic Director, Arunima Kumar Dance Company, London, United Kingdom.

In her Keynote Address, Ms. Mahajan said that in its present form National Commission for Women does not enjoy any significant authority. Hence, she has recommended to the government to grant National Commission for Women the right of prosecution and the power to take a stand on the lines of National Human Rights Commission.

Ms. Mahajan also complimented FICCI FLO for bringing out a book ‘Laws Affecting Women in India: A Ready Reckoner’, a comprehensive book written in simple language by the team of country’s leading law firm. She said that it provides requisite information to a woman considering her legal options in a simple and easy to understand language.

While congratulating the women achievers, Mr. Bhutoria said that it was indeed a matter of great pride for the country that the people of Indian origin were not only promoting culture but had become the torch bearers of a new forward looking India. He said that it was imperative for women to hold positions of power in the boardroom to achieve gender parity and to achieve it was essential to promote girl child and impart basic education to them.

Ms. Neeta Boochra, President, FLO, stated that with the vision of ‘Educate, Skill & Empower’, the dream to empower women, to nurture and fortify them with skills and self-confidence has turned into a reality, with collective efforts from the Headquarters and the pan-India Chapters. The focus was on building skills, enhancing employability, augmenting economic independence of women, thereby promoting sustainable development in India.

She said that FLO has emerged as the epitome of women power, continuously working towards the goal of women empowerment. It was a truly humbling as also an enriching experience for leading her to lead FICCI FLO.

On the occasion, the 12 Chapters of FICCI FLO made presentations of the work undertaken by them in various fields in the year gone by.

On 9 April 2015, at the 31st FLO Annual Session, Dr. Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel Group, in his Keynote Address spelled out the quality attributes that family-owned businesses in India possess which have enabled them to not only survive but face the challenges with equanimity, fuel the growth of their companies and make increasing contribution to the country’s GDP.

He further said the reason which family-owned businesses continue to grow is because they have been job creators. Most of such entrepreneurs have been thinkers and risk-takers and that is why they have been able to stay in business for generations.

Dr. Chandra, also cautioned against falling prey to the pitfalls of power. Absolute power, he said, corrupts the brain cells and stifles rational thinking. Family-businesses are not immune to this and those that have succumbed to it find the law catching up with them some day.

The Special Address by Baroness Sandip Verma, Senior Minister for Energy & Climate Change, Government of UK emphasized the critical role of assertiveness, leadership and mentoring to bring about a change in the lives of women who are denied an opportunity to carve out a niche for themselves. She said she favored 40% representation of women at the middle –level management of companies. She said economic growth is generated because women tend to be the biggest consumers and wondered why in such a scenario India was not managing its discourse around women.

Arguing for a larger representation of women in company board rooms, she said a mixed board room enables one to take a diverse view of what consumers want. Baroness Verma advised women business leaders to “reach out if you want help from others and reach out to help those who need it.”

Ms. Meenakshi Lehki, Member of Parliament and Spokesperson of the BJP, said that discrimination against women was all-pervasive, not just in the top echelons of society. “How many women gardeners, women cab drivers or women e-rickshaw drivers do you have?” she asked even as she noted that small entrepreneurs (including women) contribute up to 35% to the country’s GDP. And yet till yesterday, there was no government policy on soft loans to them, she added.

Dr. Jyotsna Suri, President of FICCI, noted that in two years FICCI has had two women as Presidents, a no mean achievement. She underlined the need to go to areas where women need help; to rural areas to create an awareness that there is no difference between a man and a woman in terms of ability and capacity to excel. “As responsible Indian women, we need to share what we have learnt by reaching out,” Dr. Suri pointed out.

On the occasion, 10 FLO Rising Star Skill Awardees from FLO’s 12 Chapters pan-India were felicitated for their determination in skilling themselves and finding a place for themselves in society. The session was conducted by Ms Harjinder Kaur, Jt. Treasure FLO conducted the session. The Awardees included: Ms Jaimala & Ms Nirmala from Delhi; Ms Sumaiya Petiwala from Ahmedabad Chapter; Ms Salma from Chennai Chapter; Ms Jyoti Gupta from Jaipur Chapter; Ms Kusum from Kolkata Chapter; Ms Sandhya Gupta from Ludhiana Chapter; Ms Malti Yogeshwar & Ms Vaesha Ahuji from Mumbai Chapter and Ms Sheneh Topno from Northeast Chapter

The session concluded with the Change of Guard of FLO. Annual session, Ms. Archana Garodia Gupta took over as President of FLO from the outgoing President, Ms. Neeta Boochra.

The 31st Annual Session of FLO was telecast by Zee Business on Sunday, April 19th at 4:30 pm, in an exclusive coverage. The link to the telecast-