Striking a home-office balance is not a problem

The printing industry is teeming with creative talents. Who has better creativity than women? Education is the most important factor that can empower a woman and make her self-reliant and powerful. Many more women have come forward and joined the print industry. This industry is growing leaps and bounds and the word is spreading that this is one industry where you have enormous scope of learning and enormous scope to show your talent. Women have taken a special liking to this industry because of the opportunity it gives them in the creativity front.

Striking a balance between home and office is not a problem or an issue once you get to change your mind set. I understand it is difficult for many, especially in the Indian scenario. A lot also depends on the support and attitude of your family members. Once you are able to get that support, the rest is easy. I am among the fortunate who have the full support of the family.

Obviously, jobs with value addition, which is possible with advanced screen printing, is something that keeps me hooked on to printing. Value addition is attractive not because it gives you that extra income, but it gives you the wonderful opportunity to use your imagination and creativity.

I think the FMCG sector is the most promising segment which will drive the growth and value addition in printing and packaging while the pharma sector requires minimal value addition.

Spare time activities: Cooking and handicrafts are my preferred hobbies. I take the spare time, whatever I get, to watch TV and read books. I have special interest in cooking, especially baking. I have learnt from professionals and also have taught a lot many young women around. If not printing, then maybe I would have taken more interest in the food industry.

(Radha Khandelwal is the director of Nextgen Printers, Kolkata.)