The
Chairperson of the Chennai-based Tractors
and Farm Equipment limited (TAFE) Ms Mallika
Srinivasan has been chosen for the Padma
Shri award by the Government of India. Mallika is the wife of Venu Srinivasan, who is heading TVS
Motor Co. Venu Srinivasan was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010. Those who have
got the Padma Shri award for 2014 in the Trade & Industry category include Mallika
Srinivasan, Rajesh Saraiya and Pratap Govindrao Pawar.
While
reacting to the recognition by the government, Mallika Srinivasan said:
"It is a matter of pride for Team Tafe. We accept this coveted award with
pride and humility. What is more, the award should inspire us further to build
our organisation into a global entity". Laying cohesive focus in improving
the lot of the farming community, TAFE's thrust will be on developing rural
India, the Padma Shri awardee added.
A
university gold-medalist in Econometrics from the University of
Madras, she graduated as a member of the Dean's Honor List, and the Alpha Beta
Gamma Society, from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania,
USA, and was ranked as one of its top 125 most successful alumni.
Ms
Srinivasan is at present the Chairman and Chief Executive O?cer of TAFE
(Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited), a US $1.6 billion tractor major incorporated in 1960 at Chennai, India.
TAFE is today, the third largest tractor manufacturer in the world and the
second largest in India, by volumes, with presence in over 82 countries,
including developed countries in Europe and the Americas.
On
the eve of the Republic Day 2014, the President of India approved conferment of
127 Padma Awards including one duo case (counted as one). The list comprised
two Padma Vibhushan, 24 Padma Bhushan and 101 Padma Shri Awardees. Twenty seven of the awardees are women and
the list also includes 10 persons from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs
and Posthumous Awardees.