The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Entrepreneurs help out another

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Sunday, Aug 31, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Entrepreneurs help out another

Staff Reporter

70-year-old furniture designer’s unit gutted
Help pouring in for rebuilding the unit

Thiruvananthapuram: Members of the Industrial Estate Industrialists’ Association have rallied around to help a fellow entrepreneur whose unit in the Pappanamcode Industrial Area was gutted in an accidental fire early on Tuesday.

Shanmughan Mesari, veteran designer and maker of classic furniture, suffered huge losses in the fire which reduced his unit to ashes.

The 70-year-old man employs 35 artisans, most of them veteran carpenters capable of extremely intricate wood work.

His son and daughter work in the same unit, Shans Furniture.

Fire and Rescue Services officials said Mr. Shanmughan suffered a loss of nearly Rs. 1 crore.

Ravaging fire

The fire reduced costly rosewood and teak plants and furniture to ashes. Only a part of his lost property was insured.

K.E. Ismail, MP, Communist Party of India leader and president of the Small Industries Federation of Kerala, offered the first instalment of financial assistance to Mr. Shanmugham. Scores of the clients of the entrepreneur have promised to help him.

Mr. Shanmugham hopes to set up a furniture unit in the same place in two weeks. He has told his clients that he will meet all his commitments at the shortest possible time.

The association president, Reghunath, secretary, Swaminathan, SIDC director, T.U. Johnson, and treasurer, R. Surendran Nair, were present at the function.

Seven units of the Fire and Rescue Services from the Chenkalchoola, Chakka, Vizhinjam and Neyyattinkara fire stations took around five hours to put out the fire.

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