Welcome message from Shri GKS
1978 to 2009 — 31 years of dedicated service to the Cotton Community in India & Abroad
Historical Background
The South India Cotton Association was founded on 4th May 1978. The following were the Founder Directors of SICA.
 |
Shri G.K. Sundaram |
|
Shri R. Doraiswami |
|
Shri K. Venkatesalu |
|
Shri G. Varadaraj |
|
Shri S. Devaraj |
|
Shri U.R. Joshi |
|
Shri Hiralal P. Malani |
|
Shri K.N. Viswanathan |
|
Shri M. Appuswamy |
|
Shri M.G. Khona |
|
Shri Arvind K. Kikani |
|
Shri R.A. Iyer |
|
Shri Chhotalal Bhagwanji |
|
Shri R. Ethirajulu |
Shri G.K.Sundaram, Chairman and Managing Director, The Lakshmi Mills Company Limited, Coimbatore was President since inception of SICA to 1997-98 and he continue to be Director and the SICA members conferred the honour of Emeritus-President Status to him at a Special Public Meeting on 13.6.2003. Shri S. Devaraj, Managing Director, M/s. Narayankrishna Spinners was the President during 1998-1999 and Shri C. Soundara Raj, Managing Director, M/s. Sri Narendra Raja Textiles is the President from 1999-2000 onwards. Shri G. Varadaraj, Managing Director,
M/s. Ganga Textiles was the Founder Director and First Vice President during 1978-79 to 1985-86. Shri U.R. Joshi, Partner, M/s. U.R. Joshi & Co., was also the Founder Director and First Vice President during 1978-79 and continued to be so till 1997-98. Shri Hiralal P. Malani, Partner, M/s. Kishore Padamshi was the Founder Director during 1978-79 and continued to be so till 1988-89 and also during 1993-94 to 1998-99 and Vice President from 1999-2000 to 2005-06 .Shri.D.K.Desai,of M/s.C.A.Galiakot wala & Co is the director since and continued to be so and is our vice president since 2006-07. Shri V. Ravichandran, Managing Director, M/s. Prashanth Textiles Limited is our Director from 1993-94 and continues to be so and is Vice President from 1998-99 and continues to be so. Shri.K.N.Viswanathan,Partner, M/s. C.Jayantilal & Co., is a founder Director and Honorary Secretary since 1978 and continues to be Director & Honorary Secretary. Shri A. Ramani, Proprietor, M/s. Swaathi Cotton Traders is our Director and Honorary Joint Secretary from 1989-90 and continues to be so.
About SICA
Late 60s and mid 70s saw the beginning of unprecedented growth of textile activity in this part of the country. It was the practice of Mills to source their raw material (viz.cotton) from various upcountry centers. With poor communication facility, they were working with inadequate market communicators.
Understanding this, the Forward Market Commission, which visited Coimbatore in mid 70s, emphasized the necessity for starting a Cotton Association in Coimbatore to serve the Industry and agreed to recognise the same. This served as a motivation for the Industry and trade to start this Association at Coimbatore.
Thus with Shri G.K.Sundaram as the founder President, the Association was started in 1977 with due representation of all people in trade viz. user Mills, Traders, Brokers, Farmers, etc. Throughout its 29 years of service, the association has been of great service to the members and Industry. The Association is ably supported by organizations like SIMA, SITRA CITI, CII etc.
Providing periodic market information, offering state of art testing facility, quality survey, preparing standards, Arbitration, Liaison with Cotton Agencies and Government Bodies in India and Abroad, Organizing various studies on Ginning, Market Committees, Development of Model Demo Cotton Farms for Farmers, representing cotton related problems with Govts.etc are the major accomplishments of the Association.
SICA is one of the member of the State cotton council of Tamil Nadu,member of the Indian council of Arbitration,Confederation of Indian Industries,special invitee of Cotton Advisory Board.etc.
All these accomplishments were possible through the dynamic leadership of Shri G.K.Sundaram, who was President of the Association for 21 continuous years. His dedication towards the organisation and his motivation is largely responsible for the growth of SICA. His far sighted vision has brought this Association to being recognised as one of the Premier Cotton Associations globally.
The members of SICA have conferred on him “Emeritus President” status and pray for his continued service in the years to come. An endowment in the name of Shri G.K.Sundaram Endowment has been created by SICA and various speakers will be invited to deliver speeches periodically on important subjects. The inaugural speech was delivered by Shri P.Chidambaram honorable FInance Minister, GOI on “Building a strong economy with Ethics” on 13.06.2003. This meeting was well attended by the public. Second lecture was addressed by Shri Soli J. Sorabjee former Attorney General of India on a topic “Indian Judicial System and Constitution” on 22.12.2004.
Coimbatore, the Manchester of South India, is renowned as a Cotton City in the international Textile map. SICA is an outcome of the circumstances in the 1960’s and 70’s which witnessed an unprecedented growth of the textile activity. To hasten the economic growth, The Forward Market Commission recommended the need for a Cotton Association in the city and thus SICA came into existence. SICA was to help in the growing cotton industry by improving the communication facilities and improving the inadequate market communicators. With Shri G.K.Sundaram as President in 1977, SICA came into existence to serve the interests of user mills, traders, brokers and farmers associated with the cotton trade. SICA celebrated its Silver Jubilee in the year 2005. The Association is supported by organisations like SIMA and SITRA.
Major Accomplishments
|
Providing Periodic Market Information |
|
State- of- the art testing facility |
|
Quality Survey |
|
Preparing Standards |
|
Arbitration |
|
Liaison with cotton agencies and government bodies in India & Abroad |
|
Involving Social Service by Donating Gujarat Earth Quake relief fund, Tamilnadu Tsunami relief fund and Siruthuli. |
|
|
