The Annual Function of Citi Micro Entrepreneur Awards 2011 held at Mumbai on 5^th December saw an award for Udaipur. Sadhna, a women’s handicraft enterprise from Udaipur conquered the title of ‘National Winner – Community Owned Enterprise’ among the 77 nominated organizations from all over the country.

Dr. K. C. Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India presided over the event in which 10 winners were honored in the category of National, Regional, Youth, Innovative, Green and Community owned entrepreneurs. The winners were presented with a trophy, a citation and cash prizes amounting to Rs. 1.87 million.

To access their working pattern and to augment their skills, all the winners will be given training in business development so that they can excel in their work. The award ceremony was hosted by Pramit Jhaveri, CEO, Citi India and the Council Members of the program.

Anand Selva, Country Business Manager, Global Consumer Group, Citi India said, “With the Citi Micro Entrepreneur Awards our objective is to identify and reward the micro-entrepreneurs who are doing remarkable jobs as these microenterprises are contributing to a great extent in the economic development of the country. I wish members of Sadhna lots of success in their future initiatives.”

Sadhna is a unit of Seva Mandir, a Udaipur based NGO. Established in 1988, Sadhna is registered under the Mutual Benefit Trust Act and works for the upliftment of the standard of women in rural, tribal and urban slum areas of southern Rajasthan and to provide them resources to earn independently.

Sadhna has 681 women from 16 locations of Udaipur district as its active members today. A huge selection of clothing and accessories are made by members of Sadhna which is available for sale at its retail store in Udaipur. These products are also exhibited not only in India but abroad too. Fabindia is one of the major institutes which displays and sells the work of Sadhna.

Citi Micro Entrepreneur Awards started its journey in India in the year 2004 and are dedicated towards acknowledging those micro enterprises and entrepreneurs who are innovative, efficient and have helped in generating employment opportunities and thus are helping the backward masses in moving above the poverty line.

The Citi Foundation is devoted to the economic empowerment and financial status of individuals and families who are in need so that they can improve their standard of living.