“Do you have any woman (other than you) working at managerial positions for Jinaam? What percentage would they be in comparison to the total staff? Sadly none, amongst the staff strength of over 500 employees” is what Monika Ahluwalia Oswal, CEO – Global sales and marketing, Jinaam Dress Pvt Ltd and Director of Manndola, an online garments store, had to tell us when we asked her the question.
For an industry that thrives on the mere existence of the fairer sex, it’s comes as quite a shocker that this multimillion industry has not many women entrepreneurs or decision makers to boast about. As a matter of fact, while working on this story, approaching a number of big textile houses in Surat made it further clear that the sex ratio in the textile industry of Surat is highly skewed. Matter of fact, she was the only woman that we came across in our quest of finding women decision makers in the industry.
Not pointing fingers or raising questions about the quality or the standard of the industry, it seems quite hollow that India’s biggest and one of the Asia’s largest industries hasn’t found a place yet for women to fit in.
“It’s a male driven industry, and things haven’t changed much since the beginning. Also to add to that, the operations are quite traditional and rigid. Textile in Surat is still in sync with the old gaadi business and generations have carried the same forward”, replied MoniKa when we asked her why there were fewer women in Surat’s textile sector. This makes perfect sense. Textile industry in Surat has been hereditary since forever; every few decades the reigns of the industry are passed on from one generation to the other, but seldom has it happened that a textile house, irrespective of it being big or small, has had a queen regent than a king.
“Being in textile you need to interact with all sectors and class of people which, is generally presumed, that women are uncomfortable with. But the point is, one wouldn’t know what they or someone else is comfortable with until they really venture out and find it out for themselves” she added.
If you are selling your products to women, doesn’t it make more sense to have a woman sell it to her?
As mentioned earlier, our agenda of this blog is not to point fingers or take names. Our aim is to talk about something, which hasn’t been addressed yet, or quite arguably, is convincingly and easily overlooked. All that we want to do is start a dialogue, make people think, and make a difference. Not a drastic one but a difference that both the sexes coexist in the space.
We take today to start this debate.
A desire to experiment with the current conventions and a lot of faith in the changing times.
Ansh sehgal
We are proud that our boss is women entrepreneur who is challenging to male dominant industrialist society especially in the city surat.she is build with all managerial and entrepreneurial skills which can challenge even sir richard charles nicholas branson who is well renowned entrepreneur and owner of virgin group.
Payal Shah
I wish the day comes soon when an Indian parent would tell their girl child that if you can’t take your own responsibility how would you take the responsibility of an entire family (husband, in-laws, children, etc).
Or
We are not in a hurry to get you married. The day you start earning enough for yourself you can decide on getting married.
These 2 sentences will so many things and bring solutions to so many issues.
Payal Shah
The other problem is with the mindset of most of the Indian Women. They themselves are happy to be dependent cause independence comes along with responsibility which no one wants to take. I come across so many people who have all the help they would need at home and still they are so occupied getting works done from their help that they are not able to find time to do something more concrete.
For that matter even Indian males are no less. They love to be the decision makers but as soon as their wives indicates that they would like to go out and work their first reaction would be ‘let us talk to my parents and see if they are okay with this idea’. First of all why does someone need to take permissions to work or do something more meaning full & secondly why should she convince your parents, it is your responsibility.
Second reaction ‘make sure you manage everyone’s timings & do not compromise on home’. Boss it is everyone’s home. Why can’t 2 people mutually manage ‘Their Home’ together?? When you like to keep the decision making powers in your hand than take charge of the home as well…
This is not it. Parents are happy to spend unlimited money for education and make their kids run blindly in the race for almost 21 years of their life. But when it is time for the kids to put their knowledge to use for their growth & make them independent they are in a hurry to get them married. As if there is nothing left in their kid’s lives beyond marriage. And after getting them married they expect their kids to behave responsibly and handle things maturely but when did they get time to be responsible or mature??
But the best part is that most of the so called ‘well educated women’ are okay will all of the above…
Hats off to my very dear friend Monika and few others for making such a huge difference and working hard to make their lives meaning full. I am so very proud of you.
admin
There are changes happening in the society but at a very slow speed. We expect more of Monika Ahluwalia Oswal in Surat. Well written thoughts Payal 🙂
Avinash Baoker
Very Very impressive Blog and a Gr8 topic picked from the Textile Industry of Surat.
admin
Thank you Avinash. We are glad.
Sonali S
Exactly the thing we should be concerned about as a society!
Women are still the most under utilised potential in our economy.or any economy for that matter!!
Imagine what wonders we can do as a city or country if half its population starts contributing to its financial growth!!
There is change happening – but a lot remains to be done
admin
We agree with you Sonal. There needs to be radical changes in the society for the gender equality to flourish.