'Create something that outlives you' – Yogesh, Umaid Mills

06 Jan '12

11 min read

“Entering the institutional supplies segment had its own positive impact on the turnover. Cost saving mechanisms such as Kaizen and engagement of external experts for energy audits enabled us maintain the power consumption at the same level despite increase in production. Installing the RO plant not only led to overall reduction in water expenses but also improvement in the quality levels of the input water, hence reducing overall maintenance costs".

One more reason for the above is also the induction of professional's post-2007, including Mr Govind Sharda the Executive Director of MSUM, who is empowered by the board to take key decisions on his own, which reduced the time lag in implementing a decision.

Yogesh is very concerned about climatic changes and water conservation. He says, “I am very much concerned about the environment and a firm believer in climatic changes and if corrective steps are not taken, we could see the future generation paying for the follies of this generation. Water conservation is one more subject, close to my heart”.

As part of this initiative, they have installed an RO water plant, which purifies the water treated by the effluent treatment plant, the purity of which is equivalent to that of bottled drinking water. This water is reused and has directly helped in cutting water usage by 40-50 percent.

They also plan to set up a wind power plant of 25 mega watts in the first-half of 2012, which if all goes well, will be scaled up to 50 mega watts. This will make MSUM self-dependent on electricity and also get uninterrupted power supply and at the same time generate power through environmentally friendly resources.

MSUM has established schools, colleges, hospitals and stadiums in Pali and Jodhpur, and is closely involved in managing old age homes and an eye hospital in Pali, renowned for holding large scale cataract surgery camps across Rajasthan. They have also established a museum. MSUM also holds medical camps in its premises once every year. It also maintains a gaushala (cowshed) which houses around 300 cows behind the mill premises.

Sumerpur, a town in Pali district became a major cotton producing belt on the initiative of MSUM. Thirty years back, MSUM urged farmers to grow cotton and provided the necessary know-how and inputs in developing growth of the white gold in the region. As a result of which, Sumerpur, now produces nearly 50,000 bales of good quality cotton.

Last year, Yogesh initiated cotton farming on around 19 acres of a 70 acre barren parcel of land, owned by the organisation, in proximity to the mill premises. The company took the help of the state agriculture department and also roped in an agriculture scientist to adopt best and modern farming methods. MSUM also organised camps for cotton farmers on the farm so that they too may inculcate the best practices. This season they harvested their first cotton crop.

MSUMtoday employs around 2,500 workers and the first shift employs around 80 percent women in the ring frame section. All the senior staff officials and most of the workers stay in quarters in the mill premises. Regular cultural events and sports activities are part of the routine for residents of the mill township.

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