Kerala Woman Entrepreneur Award winners announced

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Minister K K Shylaja has announced that Sruthi Shibulal, Poornima Indrajith and Sheila James have been chosen for the Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur Award 2020.

They were chosen for the prestigious award for their exemplary work in their respective fields and setting a model for other women.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will give away the awards during a ceremony held at the Nishagandhi auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram at 4 pm on March 7. The ceremony would mark the start of International Women's Day celebrations in the state.

Sruthi Shibulal

Sruthi Shibulal is the founder-CEO of Tamara Leisure Experiences. Sruthi Shibulal forayed into the large-scale hospitality sector, which is mostly shunned by women, and created a brand of her own. The Tamara Coorg, set up by Sruthi in 2012, is an ideal example for eco-friendly responsible tourism. This group has hotels in Kerala too.

Poornima Indrajith

Poornima Indrajith turned into an entrepreneur after leaving her mark as a film actress and television anchor. Established in 2013, her boutique 'Pranaah' was able to garner much attention in a small span of time. Along with desi and foreign trends, the focus was also given on Kaithari (Kerala handloom).

Pranaah became a sought-after brand and even made its presence at international film festivals. When the handloom sector was wrecked during the massive floods in the state, Poornima started a community 'Save the Loom,' to rehabilitate the weavers.

Sheela James

Sheela James forayed into the textile design sector three decades ago and proved her mettle. With just one sewing machine and a single tailor, Sheela James started her small business in 1986. Today, her Sareena Boutique is a force to reckon with in the Kerala capital. It is able to influence the fashion trends of women, cutting across generations.

Sheela has also identified expert craftsmen even from faraway lands and supported them. She also made attempts to improve the livelihood of those weavers, who were affected by the floods.