30th IMC Ladies’ Wing Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar rewards Sustainable Entrepreneur Rajiben Vankar
The Ladies’ Wing of IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry bestowed the esteemed 30th IMC Ladies’ Wing Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar 2023 on Smt. Rajiben Vankar, Founder of Rajiben – Crafting a Better Planet for her exemplary contribution towards sustainable entrepreneurship and encouraging women in her village to join the mission of plastic up-cycling. Renowned actress and environmentalist Ms. Dia Mirza and Dr. Ashok Khosla – Chairman of Development Alternatives felicitated Rajiben Vankar at the flagship award ceremony held in Mumbai.
On the occasion of the 30th year milestone of the prestigious Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar, the IMC Ladies’ Wing had organized ‘SWADHEEN’, a 3-day exhibition from 7th to 9th January, celebrating the handwoven fabric that Jankidevi Bajaj dedicated her life to. SWADHEEN brought together historical, social, and economic contexts in which the Fabric of Freedom developed and persists. The curated exhibition highlighted the History and Value Chain of the fabric and showcased a retrospective on Jankidevi Bajaj.
Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Amrita Somaiya, President of IMC Ladies’ Wing said, “We Rise by Lifting Others is the IMC Ladies’ Wing motto for the year. And our awardee – Rajiben is a pioneer in every sense of the word. She has transformed the lives of many people from her community and most importantly helped them with their livelihoods. She truly combines grace, strength and intelligence. Her resilience has brought out her community of the shadows to take their rightful place and live a life with self-respect and dignity.”
Smt. Rajiben Vankar, Founder, Rajiben- Crafting a Better Planet, on winning the award stated, “Plastic waste is the most important topic to discuss but the most neglected topic to work on. I chose to work with plastic waste because it was close to my heart. This award fuels my passion and commitment to continue striving for excellence and contributing positively to upcycling 10 million plastic bags. This recognition motivates me to push boundaries, explore new horizons, and make meaningful contributions for crafting a better planet.
IMC Ladies’ Wing Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar is an annual presentation of an award to a woman entrepreneur from a nationwide search for her selfless and enterprising contribution towards rural business entrepreneurship. Sponsored by Bajaj Electricals Ltd., This Award comprises a Cash award, a Citation and a Certificate. The award has only grown in stature every year, becoming a mascot for the IMC Ladies Wing in India’s hinterland, broadcasting the organization’s ideals and philosophy to women.
