Surat - Loktej English

Surat: A significant meeting of Laghu Udyog Bharati was held regarding the preparations for IIF Udyam 2026

Loktej English Team — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:34:13 +0530

Laghu Udyog Bharati, Surat organized an important meeting at Shri Marudhar Kesari Regent Textile Market to discuss the preparations for the successful organization of IIF Udyam 2026. The meeting received special guidance from Vajubhai Vagasia, former All India President of Laghu Udyog Bharati and a senior industrialist.

Various topics including the organization of the IIF Udyam 2026 exhibition, publicity, stall booking, participation of entrepreneurs, and organizational expansion were discussed in detail. A decision was also made to appoint a dedicated employee for Laghu Udyog Bharati, Surat to make the organization more effective and empowered. To encourage women entrepreneurship, a special team of women entrepreneurs was announced to be formed in Surat.

This team will receive support from women presidents and successful entrepreneurs from other cities. Additionally, special facilities, extra benefits, and accommodation arrangements will be provided to women entrepreneurs participating in the exhibition. A decision was made to conduct road shows, hoardings, and banner campaigns in various major cities for extensive publicity of IIF Udyam 2026.

Furthermore, it was announced that members of Laghu Udyog Bharati would receive special concessions on stall booking at the exhibition. The meeting noted that websites and mobile apps for Android and iOS platforms have been developed by Laghu Udyog Bharati. These will include online payment facilities, allowing entrepreneurs to easily avail registration, stall booking, and other services.

A large number of entrepreneurs and officials were present at the meeting, including Division Vice President Hansraj Jain, Rakesh Rangwani, Pankaj Sharma, Manohar Vaishnav, Vinod Saraswat, Chanchal Vachhani, Ganpat Bhati, Mohabbat Parmar, Devaraj Patel, Mehul Jadhav, and Shakti Singh Tanwar. Media in-charge Mahendra Patel stated that extensive preparations have begun to make IIF Udyam 2026 a grand and successful event, and encouraging support from entrepreneurs is being received. Ramavatar Parik, President of Laghu Udyog Bharati, Surat expressed gratitude to all entrepreneurs and officials present at the meeting and called for active participation for the success of the event.

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Surat: New team takes charge at SGCCI, Ashok Jirawala becomes president

Loktej English Team — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:01:21 +0530

Surat. The newly elected officials of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) for the year 2026-27 have formally taken charge.

During the handover ceremony held after the 86th grand inauguration, the officials of the year 2025-26 handed over the responsibilities of the organization to the new team. In the event, the president of 2025-26, Mr. Nikhil Madarasi, welcomed the newly elected president Ashok Jirawala by presenting him with a bouquet. Following this, President Ashok Jirawala welcomed Ravi Raj Desai, elected as the vice president for 2026-27, and wished him well for his new responsibilities.

During the handover ceremony, Vijay Mevawala transferred the responsibilities of the past president to Nikhil Madarasi. Meanwhile, Bijal Jariwala handed over the honorary minister's responsibilities to Paresh Lathia. CA Mitesh Modi transferred the duties of honorary treasurer to Atul Patel.

In the same vein, Kiran Thummar handed over the responsibilities of all exhibition chairman to Manish Kapadia. There was also a leadership change in the women's wing, where Mrs. Mayuri Mevawala transferred the responsibilities of ladies' wing chairperson to Mrs. Alpa Madarasi.

Former and current officials of the chamber, representatives from the industry, and distinguished members from various fields were present at the event. The program reiterated the commitment to elevate the industries, trade, and entrepreneurship of South Gujarat to new heights under the leadership of the new team.

Surat: NRI's thumb severed while feeding a horse carrots, doctors saved it after four hours of microsurgery

Loktej English Team — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:00:52 +0530

In a shocking incident in Mangrol village of Surat district, an NRI was seriously injured while feeding a horse carrots. The horse bit off a part of his right thumb along with the carrot.

The injured person was immediately admitted to a hospital in Surat, where doctors successfully reattached the thumb after a complex microsurgery that lasted about four hours. According to reports, Salimbhai, originally from Mangrol and currently residing in the United Kingdom (UK), has a special fondness for horses. He has four horses at his farmhouse and visits India from time to time for their care and training.

Recently, he had purchased a new horse at a cost of approximately 1.2 million rupees and had arrived in Mangrol from the UK a few days ago to oversee its care. It is reported that two days ago, in the afternoon, Salimbhai was feeding the horse carrots at his farmhouse when the horse suddenly bit off a part of his right thumb along with the carrot. The incident caused panic at the scene, and family members immediately took him to Surat for treatment.

After the incident, the severed part of the thumb remained in the horse's mouth. Family members and farm staff managed to retrieve it after about an hour of effort. The severed part of the thumb was immediately preserved in ice and taken to the hospital with the patient, which kept the possibility of reattachment alive.

A team of specialist surgeons at a private hospital in the Adajan area of Surat immediately began the operation. During the approximately four-hour microsurgery, blood vessels, nerves, and tissues were carefully reconnected to reestablish the thumb. According to hospital sources, the surgery was successful, and the patient's condition is currently stable.

Doctors stated that the timely arrival at the hospital with the properly preserved severed part significantly increased the chances of a successful operation. Family members mentioned that despite this accident, Salimbhai's love for horses has not diminished. He has expressed a desire to take care of his horses himself once he fully recovers.

This incident exemplifies the necessity of exercising caution even with trained and domesticated animals. Additionally, timely medical assistance and proper preservation of severed limbs can save limbs even in serious accidents.

Surat: 42 Nomination Papers Filed for FOSTA Elections, Kailas Hakim Also in the Race

Loktej English Team — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:58:21 +0530

The process of submitting nomination papers for the upcoming elections of the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTA) began on Sunday, June 8, 2026. A total of 42 nomination papers were filed from various categories during this process, which started at 2 PM.

According to information received from election officials, 21 nomination papers were submitted from the Platinum category, 13 from the Diamond category, and 8 from the Gold category. Against a total of 41 director positions, 42 candidates have presented their candidacy. Former FOSTA president Kailas Hakim also submitted his nomination paper.

In the Platinum category, there were 21 nominations for 21 positions, in the Diamond category, there were 13 nominations for 13 positions, and in the Gold category, there were 8 nominations for 7 positions. The nomination process was conducted peacefully under the presence and supervision of election officials Ashok Jain, Brijmohan Agarwal, and Sachin Agarwal. According to the election schedule, the verification of nomination papers will take place on June 9, Tuesday.

Following this, a list of valid candidates will be published at 6 PM at the FOSTA office. Candidates will have the opportunity to withdraw their nominations on June 13, 2026, from 2 PM to 6 PM.

After that, the final list of candidates will be released. If necessary, voting will be conducted on June 20, 2026, Saturday, from 11 AM to 5 PM at Millennium Market on Ring Road.

Surat: Dr. Anand Deshpande Engages with Entrepreneurs with Over 50 Crore Turnover

Loktej English Team — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:57:37 +0530

Surat: At a special 'Ask Me Anything' event organized by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) and Integrity Network, Dr. Anand Deshpande, founder and chairman of Persistent Systems, interacted with entrepreneurs having an annual turnover of over 50 crore rupees. The event was also attended by the chamber's honorary treasurer Atul Patel, Dr. Anil Sarawagi, and Dr. Vijay Radadiya.

Entrepreneurs from the IT, software, SaaS, and artificial intelligence sectors received guidance on business expansion, leadership, and future challenges. Dr. Deshpande emphasized that to elevate any company to new heights, clear goals, market leadership, team-centric thinking, and strong corporate governance are essential. He advised entrepreneurs to identify niche markets where they can establish leadership by capturing a 20 percent market share, rather than chasing small portions of large markets.

He stated that founders should adopt a perspective of 'our company' instead of 'my company' for business growth. Employees should be developed not just as staff but as partners, and options like ESOP should be considered to make them stakeholders in the company's success. Discussing the growing impact of artificial intelligence, Dr. Deshpande noted that AI is rapidly challenging human capabilities in tasks like coding and data analysis.

Consequently, IT companies that remain limited to 'selling man-hours' or coding services may face challenges in the future. He mentioned that companies will need to adopt outcome-based pricing models instead of focusing on working hours. Additionally, due to the increasing need for data security, there will be a significant rise in demand for secure AI models and AI agents based on private data.

In response to a question about expanding into foreign markets, Dr. Deshpande referred to the 'Buffalo Strategy,' suggesting that new companies should become part of established global platforms like Salesforce, Microsoft, and AWS, rather than spending resources to create new markets. This approach facilitates easier access to millions of existing customers and accelerates the process of international expansion. During the event, three companies from Surat were specially honored for achieving tenfold (10X) growth in their businesses over the past four years.

The honored companies included Vasundhara Infotech, DesignWiz, and a leading e-commerce aggregator. The founders of these companies also shared their experiences, providing insights into business challenges and success strategies. The event organizers stated that such platforms play a crucial role in connecting Gujarat's entrepreneurs with global thinking, modern technology, and innovation.

High-level programs will continue to be organized in the future to strengthen Surat's IT and technology ecosystem. The successful event's organizers, including Chetan Patel, Puneet Gajera, Amar Panchal, Nirav Alagiya, Saumish Kakadia, and Ganpat Dhameliya, expressed that this is a long-term effort by the chamber to connect Gujarat's entrepreneurs with the power of global thinking and modern technology, and such high-level programs will continue uninterrupted in the future to make Surat's IT hub globally competitive.

Surat: Grand Welcome and Honor for Baba Balaknath Ji by Rajasthan Yuva Sangh

Loktej English Team — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:24:07 +0530

During the visit of the popular MLA and saint Baba Balaknath Ji to Surat, a grand welcome and honor ceremony was organized by Rajasthan Yuva Sangh at the Sangh office. Esteemed citizens, officials, and a large number of community members from the Rajasthan society participated enthusiastically to greet Baba Balaknath Ji.

At the beginning of the program, Ramavatar Parik, the vice president of Rajasthan Yuva Sangh, highlighted the organization's vision and future plans, sharing efforts for the comprehensive development of society, strengthening the organization, and connecting youth with social service. Following this, Jagdish Sharma, the secretary of the organization, introduced Rajasthan Yuva Sangh and provided a detailed account of various social, educational, and cultural activities conducted for the benefit of society. Senior official Vishwanath Pacheria stated that Rajasthan Yuva Sangh is a leading organization representing approximately 1 million people of the Rajasthan community residing in Surat.

He mentioned that the organization continuously works for the unity, upliftment, and preservation of cultural values of the society. In his address, Baba Balaknath Ji praised the efforts of Rajasthan Yuva Sangh and expressed special gratitude for preserving and promoting the glorious culture, traditions, and values of Rajasthan on the land of Gujarat. He stated that the work of the migrant community in keeping their cultural heritage alive is inspiring and exemplary.

He urged the youth to play an active role in nation-building and social service, emphasizing the strengthening of education, organization, values, and service spirit. Present at the event were organization minister Ashok Saraswat, Mahendra Chaudhary, Girdhari Rajpurhoit, co-secretary Shakti Singh, co-treasurer Vinod Saraswat, Pankaj Sharma, Ganpat Bhati, media in-charge Shishpal Ratusaria, Manohar Vaishnav, Virendra Rajawat, Vikram Rao, Shyam Mali, along with many officials and workers.

At the end of the ceremony, Baba Balaknath Ji was honored, and gratitude was expressed to the attending guests and community members. The program concluded in a harmonious, enthusiastic, and inspiring atmosphere.

Surat: Mahesh Navami Celebration by Maheshwari Yuva Club with Mahesh Pyau, Serving Rose Sherbet and Lemonade to Passersby

Loktej English Team — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:23:30 +0530

In celebration of the auspicious occasion of Mahesh Navami 2026, Maheshwari Yuva Club, Surat organized a service of rose sherbet and lemonade for the public, passersby, and laborers at Mahesh Pyau located at Bhatar Char Rasta on Sunday, June 7. The aim of the program was to provide relief to people amidst the intense heat.

The club's president, Krishna Baldwa, mentioned that a large number of passersby and laborers frequent the area around the pyau. Considering the hot weather, approximately 500 liters of rose sherbet and lemonade were distributed, which provided significant relief to the people. The club's secretary, Abhishek Dhoot, informed that as part of the Mahesh Navami festival, a free orthopedic check-up and joint replacement consultation camp will be organized on June 14, 2026, at Maheshwari Luxuria in Parvat Patia under the guidance of renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. Vijay Bang from Ahmedabad.

Mukesh Tiwari from the organization noted that the success of the program was greatly supported by executive members Kapil Kapuria, Rajneesh Tapadia, Rajesh Rathi, Pawan Soni, Vasu Asawa, Deepak Baheti, Kishan Rathi, Sonu Manihar, Raghav Rathi, and Sitaram Somani. In the end, the organization's officials extended advance greetings for Mahesh Navami to all community members.

Surat: Formation of Udhna-Godadra Maheshwari Sabha, Satyanarayan Devpura elected President and Dinesh Chandak as Secretary

Loktej English Team — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:23:14 +0530

The new executive committee of the Udhna-Godadra Maheshwari Sabha, under the Surat District Maheshwari Sabha, was formed unanimously on Saturday. Damodar Rathi from the Sabha family provided this information, stating that new office bearers were selected for various positions in the organization.

Satyanarayan Devpura was entrusted with the role of President and Dinesh Chandak as Secretary. Additionally, Mahesh Sabu and Jagdish Kothari were appointed as Vice Presidents, Shyam Sundar Rathi as Treasurer, Mukesh Nyati as Organization Minister, and Sunil Nyati and Amit Rathi as Joint Secretaries. The newly elected office bearers were welcomed by the members, who wished them well.

On this occasion, all office bearers pledged to prioritize community welfare and social service, aiming to elevate the organization to new heights. At the end of the program, all members congratulated each other by sharing sweets and wished for the new team's successful tenure.

Surat: Distribution of 10,000 glasses of buttermilk in Parvat Patiya, signature campaign conducted under the Cow Respect Campaign

Loktej English Team — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:22:51 +0530

To provide relief to the public amidst the intense heat, Sarv Dharma Narayani Seva, Surat distributed 10,000 glasses of buttermilk at Kabutar Chowk in Parvat Patiya. This service initiative was successfully completed with the support of Akhil Bharatiya Agarwal Sangh and Better Tumhare Foundation.

The organization's president Sachin Singla stated that the main objective of the program was to provide relief from the heat while promoting the spirit of service and cooperation in society. A large number of people benefited from the buttermilk distribution program and appreciated the event. He mentioned that many social workers, including Bharatji, Sunil Mandhani, Gopal Shah, and Bharat Chandak, actively participated in this noble service and made significant contributions to the success of the program.

On this occasion, a public awareness program was also organized under the "Cow Respect Campaign." Under this campaign, signatures were collected from people to prepare public opinion in support of granting the status of national mother to the cow. People enthusiastically participated in this campaign to register their support. This joint campaign of service, cooperation, and social awareness proved to be inspiring for the local residents and conveyed the message of participation in community welfare activities.

Surat: New Leadership for SGCCI, Ashok Jirawala Takes Over as President and Ravi Raj Desai as Vice President

Loktej English Team — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:06:25 +0530

Surat. In a leadership change at the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, senior industrialist Ashok Jirawala has taken over as President, while young entrepreneur Ravi Raj Desai has assumed the role of Vice President.

The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Surat International Exhibition and Convention Center in Sarsana, where the responsibilities were formally handed over by former President Nikhil Madras. Several prominent figures were present at the event, including Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi, Supreme Court Justice J.K. Maheshwari, industrialist Anand Deshpande, founder of Balaji Wafers Chandu Bhai Virani, and Rajya Sabha MP Govind Dholakia, along with many industrialists, public representatives, and dignitaries. Nikhil Madras's tenure was filled with achievements; during 2025-26, under his leadership, SGCCI made significant contributions in the areas of industrial interests, business activities, exhibitions, and international connections.

His tenure saw an expansion of the organization's activities and a strong representation of the voice of the industrial sector of South Gujarat at the state and national levels. Ashok Jirawala, the newly elected President, is a well-known name in the textile industry of South Gujarat. He is the President of the Federation of Gujarat Weavers Welfare Association and has effectively raised issues related to weavers and the textile industry for a long time.

Jirawala, who has been associated with the Chamber for nearly 20 years, was active as Vice President during 2025-26. He has effectively represented various industrial issues at the state and national levels. He believes that connecting the textile industry with automation, artificial intelligence, and modern technologies is essential for advancing in global competition.

Ravi Raj Desai, the new Vice President, is among the youngest industrial representatives to reach this position in the Chamber's history. He has a strong academic background in engineering and management and is associated with various industrial and social organizations. Currently, he plays a leadership role in several industrial organizations and foundations.

The new leadership's priorities include enhancing the competitive capacity of industries, promoting new technologies and innovations in key sectors such as textiles, diamonds, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. They aim to promote automation and AI, linking industries with modern technology, automation, and artificial intelligence to increase productivity and global competitiveness. Strengthening connections with global markets, linking South Gujarat's industries with international trade, investment, and partnership opportunities.

Encouraging youth leadership and entrepreneurship, connecting the new generation of entrepreneurs with industrial organizations and the mainstream of economic development. The new leadership of the Chamber has indicated that in the coming times, special attention will be given to enhancing the competitive capacity of industries, promoting technological innovation, and strengthening the business interests of South Gujarat on national and global platforms.

Surat: Mahavir International Veera Drishti Organizes Tree Plantation on World Environment Day

Loktej English Team — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:06:06 +0530

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Mahavir International Veera Drishti, Surat organized a tree plantation program at the Udhna railway station premises. The aim of the program was to raise public awareness about environmental protection and to encourage society to engage in more tree planting.

The chief guest was Shri Ganesh Jadhav, Chief Commercial Inspector, Surat Railway, who emphasized the important role of trees in maintaining environmental balance and urged everyone to plant more trees and take regular care of them. Notable environmentalist from Surat, Shri Basant Khetan, known as the 'Tree Man', was also present and shared his continuous efforts for environmental protection, urging that tree plantation should become a public movement. During the program, the zone chairperson of Mahavir International Veera Drishti, Surat, Veera Nisha Sethia, secretary Veera Smriti Jain, advisor Veera Meenakshi Jain, and program coordinator Veera Lata Jain and Veera Neelam Danga honored railway officials and guests with shawls and mementos, reiterating their commitment to continuous work for environmental protection.

Members of the organization and railway officials enthusiastically participated in planting various species of plants. All attendees pledged to plant more trees and protect them to make the environment clean, green, and safe. This tree plantation program organized by Mahavir International Veera Drishti, Surat concluded as a meaningful and inspiring initiative towards environmental protection.

Surat: Grand Conclusion of Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM) 2026 at NTPC Jhankor

Loktej English Team — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:05:42 +0530

The concluding ceremony of the Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM) 2026 held at NTPC Jhankor was completed with enthusiasm, excitement, and inspiring presentations. The chief guests included Regional Executive Director (West-I) and CEO (UPL) E.

Satya Phani Kumar and Chairperson of Sakhi Mahila Samiti, Mrs. E. Saroj. The ceremony began with the lighting of the lamp, followed by colorful cultural performances by the participating girls.

The girls raised awareness on social issues such as cleanliness, single-use plastic elimination, and waste management through impactful theatrical presentations. Additionally, they showcased the knowledge, experience, and skills acquired during a month of training through yoga, self-defense demonstrations, patriotic songs, and other activities. In his address, E.

Satya Phani Kumar stated that with an installed capacity of 90,807 megawatts, NTPC plays a significant role in meeting the country's energy needs while also contributing to the overall development and welfare of the community through initiatives like the Girl Empowerment Mission. He praised the confidence, talent, and enthusiasm of the participating girls and congratulated everyone on the success of the program. On this occasion, the project head of Jhankor mentioned that the organization has believed in the potential and possibilities of the girls from the beginning.

He stated that this workshop would serve as a strong foundation for realizing their dreams, and now it is the responsibility of the girls and their parents to take this foundation forward. He expressed confidence that these girls would achieve remarkable success in various fields in the future. During the program, GEM 2022 participant Dhruvi Chandrakant Machhi shared her inspiring experiences and presented her paintings to the distinguished guests.

The commemorative booklet of GEM 2026 was also released, and all participating girls were honored with certificates. At the end of the ceremony, gratitude was expressed. Parents appreciated NTPC's initiative, stating that the Girl Empowerment Mission is making a significant contribution to the personality development, confidence enhancement, and bright future of their daughters.