NEW DELHI (India CSR): Union Cabinet Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North-Eastern Region of India, G. Kishan Reddy released a commemorative My Stamp (issued by the India Post) in honour of Jai Karan Sharma, Founder Chetak Group, at an event in New Delhi.
Post-Master General (Operations) Ashok Kumar handed over the first album to the Hon’ble Minister as a symbolic release of the commemorative My Stamp.
The Stamp was unveiled by the Minister and Post-Master General in the presence of Krishna Sharma, Chairperson Chetak Group and wife of Jai Karan Sharma, their sons and Directors Mukesh, Rajesh and Sachin Haritash and G Raghuram, Principal Academic Advisor NRTI and former Director IIM (Bangalore).
Jai Karan, Founder Chairman, Chetak Group was recognised for his illustrious life journey wherein he excelled on the professional, social and personal front.
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Late Sharma, son of a farmer, hailing from Jhinjhar, a small village in Haryana was a self-made entrepreneur who started from scratch and went on to build the Chetak Group, one of the leaders in Logistics, in India.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said, “I am happy to see a home-grown and self-made person like Jai Karan Sharma ji, Founder, Chetak Group being recognised by the India Postal department and I am glad to release a postal stamp to acknowledge his achievements. A person with rural background and moderate means, he fought against all odds, starting from scratch and going on to build a company that created substantial employment and contributed to the economy.”
“Sharma ji was a living example of the Prime Minister’s Employment generation programme. People like him help the government’s efforts in working on various development initiatives and I am sure this recognition will encourage today’s youth to take up entrepreneurship and take advantage of various government policies to create employment, rather than seeking employment.”, he aded.
Jai Karan Sharma’s vision was to redefine the rules in the Indian logistics industry which was hitherto considered to be a means of just transporting goods from point A to point B. He brought credibility to the sector, bringing logistics to the mainstream as a contributor to the nation’s economy.
He introduced what is now called Integrated Logistics solutions with multi-modal transportation, warehousing, packaging and just-in-time solutions, way back in the 1980s.
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He had a knack for visualising the future economic scenario, which helped him take the most daring decision relating to fleet expansion and asset acquisition which resulted in sectoral growth and huge employment generation.
He was also a people’s man. He believed in the dignity of labour and made it his mission to accord respect to the community.
He stood for inclusive growth as he supported numerous potential entrepreneurs in setting up their own transport companies.
He had a passion to help underprivileged people. He contributed to the education sector by supporting the infrastructure development of schools and colleges.
Krishna Sharma, Chairperson, Chetak Group and wife of Jai Karan Sharma said, “We are humbled that the Postal Department has issued a stamp in honour of Sharma ji and Mantri ji has taken out time to release the same. This is a blessing for Sharma ji and all of us. Sharma ji started his business life with a meagre capital. It was his hard work, passion, determination and above all, his desire to support everyone around him, that helped him achieve such great heights. I am happy that our sons are taking forward Sharma ji’s legacy, not only expanding his business but spreading his good deeds by helping the underprivileged.”
Sharma’s contributions to the social and economic development of society at large have been numerously recognised by many national and international organisations.
In the past he was given the “Transport Rattan” Award by AIMTC, “Outstanding National Citizen” Award by NSG, “Transport Samraat” by AIMTC, Rashtriya Udyog Rattan Award by Institute of Economic Studies and he was bestowed upon with the title of the Logistics Man of India by Alden Global Value Advisors.
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His dream lives on, through the Chetak Foundation, a social arm of Chetak Group, set up by his family as a tribute to Sharma’s vision of making a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged communities. The Foundation is focussing on Education, Environment, Health, Livelihood, Nutrition and Road Safety.
(India CSR)
