The chairman of Sarda Group and one of India’s largest jute mill owners, Mr. Ghanshyam Sarda, has been recognized among the Top Icons of Kolkata in 2019. Mr. Ghanshyam Sarda was awarded a Leading Industrialist from Kolkata at the widely acclaimed state event. He also won at the Times Business Awards, Kolkata, in 2019.
Ghanshyam Sarda started his journey as a small jute trader. Today, he is one of the largest jute manufacturers and employers in India, with more than 70,000 workers in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar.
During a period of tremendous labor militancy in West Bengal, most prominent business houses left the field, but not Sarda Group. Ghanshyam Sarda saw this as an opportunity to make a bright new future for biodegradable and eco-friendly jute mass production. He aimed his efforts at reviving nine sick jute mills and followed a unique approach of motivating the workers in these failing units. Not only did he manage to successfully revive these mills, but he also used this approach to revive sick companies across multiple sectors, from chemical to tea garden to IT/ITES units.
Also Read: Ghanshyam & Neetish Sarda: Famous & Successful Father-Son Duos
Sarda Group in a Post-Covid World:
Ghanshyam Sarda and the Sarda Group have shifted focus towards a more eco-friendly planet and employee care in the new normal. In an official statement, Ghanshyam Sarda said, “It is laudatory that the Central government has appreciated the role of the jute industry in the socio-economic development of the country, especially in the light of environmental concerns over the use of plastic.”
The chairman was concerned about the closure of jute mills during the pandemic despite coming under essential commodities in the Essential Commodities Act. He predicted that it would take months before 100% of the workforce, primarily migrant workers, could come back and work return to normal.
Sarda Group also takes adequate measures to ensure that all employees who aren’t covered under the government’s incentive plans receive both vaccination doses free of cost. “It is our primary duty to ensure the health of our employees,” he was quoted as saying. He also stated, “If we get permission (for jute bag production amidst Covid crisis), the premises will be highly sanitized, and social distancing norms will be strictly maintained.”
Ghanshyam Sarda has been a pioneer in reviving the jute industry and significantly boosts India’s economy, especially through export.
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