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Chauhan's daughter at Parle Agro helm

Reeba Zachariah in Mumbai

Prakash Chauhan, chairman and managing director of the Rs 6 billion Parle Agro group, has handed over the responsibilities of the group to his 25-year-old daughter Schauna Chauhan.

Says the senior Chauhan, "I have called it a day as far as handling the company's affairs is concerned. I no longer handle the group's operations. Schauna takes all decisions in respect of the group's activities. She consults me only prior to taking a final decision on any issue."

Schauna, the eldest of Chauhan's three daughters, joined the company three years back and was working in different departments including production, finance, advertising and sales within the organisation.

In her words: "From the beginning, I knew I would be joining the company and so involved myself with the group's activities. Even as a high school student I accompanied my father often when he went about visiting production facilities of other companies to upgrade his knowledge on cutting-edge technology related to the industry."

Schauna holds a bachelors degree in international management from Switzerland and it is being viewed only as a matter of time before she steps into her father's shoes as the managing director.

Chauhan said, "In family run organisations, there is no specific time-frame for one's children being designated with a title. As far as Schauna is concerned, she is already at the helm of company's affairs."

The young Schauna wants her father to be closely associated with the company's for at least three more years. "Although I currently look after day-to-day operations, I still need my father to continue monitoring the company for another three years, so that everything gets structured properly. Probably, thereafter dad can come to office for an hour in a day or as and when he feels like coming," says Schauna.

Chauhan's second daughter Alisha (23 years) has found her calling in another sphere of activity unrelated to the business interests of the Parle Agro group of companies. She has expressed no interest in joining the family business.

Having returned to India recently from the US, where she did her fitness training course, Alisha plans to open up her own fitness centres in India.

"Alisha initially tried involving herself with the activities of the company but subsequently opted to start something of her own," Schauna said.

The youngest of the Chauhan siblings Nadia (15 years) is keen to join the family organisation. "Already she takes a keen interest in the goings-on in the company," says Schauna.

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