- Grand Moss electric scooters, a brainchild of Shankari Mohanraj, is a testimonial to the courage and motivation she seeks to aspire in the budding women entrepreneurs in manufacturing
- Shankari Mohanraj believes family restrictions keep women from pursuing a career in manufacturing
- Shankari envisions India cheering for equality and gender diversity in workplace as a global leader in manufacturing
Combating financial crunches and unanticipated letdowns, Shankari Mohanraj broke all taboos and created the eco-friendly vehicle “Grand Moss”. An Electronics and Communication Engineer from Chennai, Shankari took the giant leap to boost the Earth’s green and reduce carbon footprints. “In this polluted world, it is scary to predict the future of our beautiful planet. We have to do something as sentient beings, as a part of the ecosystem. I decided to take a step forward to unfurl Ampere Electric vehicles, a line-up of affordable and eco-friendly bikes fuelled by electricity, to protect our environment”.
The Grim Gender Gap in Workforce
According to Shankari, the primary reason for women grappling with difficulties in the manufacturing sector is family restrictions. She says that women are usually expected to toil under domestic chores than nurturing professional goals. “Lack of finance accentuated manifold by an unfavorable environment was the most difficult setback that I had to overcome before tasting success.” sighs Shankari.
To Shankari, it is frankly disheartening to know that as per survey, only 3% to 12% of women work in the India's manufacturing sector. She believes that one of the significant reasons breeding gender gap in manufacturing is inadequate women who will enroll themselves in Mechanical Engineering. Once India conquers gender disparity in its classrooms, women would be better enabled to showcase their potentials in the industry. “As a women entrepreneur in manufacturing, I strongly believe the future youngsters will have take part in the training courses, attain education and imbibe the right spirit to defy stereotypical discourses that prevent women from joining manufacturing.” She further asserts, “If there is not an iota of change in workforce strategies, we will be risking our business as it will not be adequately operated without a skilled and diverse workforce.”
Anticipating a wind of change in manufacturing
Manufacturers are turning the tables and concrete efforts to get more women on board, so it seems to be a positive move, says Shankari. “Make an equal space for women not because it’s good manners, but a pre-requisite for good business and could set off a series of improvements even at the bottom level”, asserts Shankari.The manufacturing leaders should take the initiative to impart knowledge and inform the strategies they are designing to increase participation of women in workforce across the wide spectrum.She says that the manufacturers should tap the potential of women to improve the Indian manufacturing sector’s ability to compete worldwide.
Shankari inspires the budding women entrepreneurs and professionals to start facing challenges every day brushing aside fear or intimidations . Such an attitude will help them in developing the courage and self-confidence required to overcome odds in any situation. “We need to encourage women to educate and train themselves to empower in this manufacturing sector”.
Machine Maker celebrating Woman in Indian Manufacturing is coming out with incredible stories of #Womanufactuirng. If you would like to recommend anyone among you to be featured write to us at info@themachinemaker.com
