Hyderabad|India|March'2009: Jain International Trade Organization (JITO), a worldwide body of Jain businessmen, industrialists, knowledge workers and professionals in various fields reflecting their glory of ethical business practices to launch its 20th Chapter in India at Hyderabad on Sunday at 10am at Hotel Marriot.

The JITO Hyderabad Chapter will be inaugurated by Shri Ajay Jain, IAS, Managing Director of A.P. Genco. And guests of honour include Shri Hemant M Shah, National President, Shri Shantilal M. Kawar, Secretary General, Shri Mahinder Kumar Jain, President and Shri N. Tarachand Dugar, Secretary General of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondy Zone.

Immediately after the inauguration of the new Hyderabad Chapter, Shri Goutam Chand Jain Pikarna as Chairman, Shri D.C. Galada as Chief Secretary and other members of Managing Committee will be installed by The National President of JITO.

JITO aims to confer its members the benefits wider Global Business Contacts, access to Global Trade Directory on Web, opportunity to participate in International Trade Fairs, Conferences and Delegations. JITO invites all fellow Jains throughout the world to become a united force.

JITO is fast spreading many countries abroad such as South East Asian Countries, Far East Countries, USA, Europe and others. It already has chapters at Dubai and Hongkong. It has three tiers of membership. And has about 2000 across all categories of memberships. Many well known Jain Industrialists in the country have already become the members of JITO.

Some of the activities of JITO includes setting up a Jain University at an outlay of Rs 500crore. For which Rajasthan and Gujarat Governments promised all sorts of help in setting up the same. JITO has already mobilised Rs 2.5 cr as seed capital towards the same. JITO has been providing free and cash less medical insurance to 8000 Jain monks spread all over India at a cost of Rs 50 crore. JITO has been providing free training to Jain youth who plan to write Civil Service exams. It even provides educational loans at very nominate rate of 4 per cent interest.

Muni Param Pujya Naypadmasagarji, Maharaj Saheb, is the mentor and conceptualiser of JITO with the blessings of Guru Bhagwants had a dream of uniting all Jains under one Umbrella Organisation i.e.JAIN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION (JIO), JIO is the Apex confederation of all Jains, spread around the world, having under it sixteen different organisations such as Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO), Jain International Doctors' Federation (JDF), Jain International Chartered Accountants' Federation (JICF), Jain International Advocates' Federation (JIAF),Jain International Women (JIWO), Jain International Youth Organisation (JIYO), Jain International Government Employees' Organisation (JIGEO) etc. Almost 75% of the working population of Jains is engaged in business and industry.

The Jain population in India according to 2001 census is about 50 lakhs. The Jain population is spread across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The Jain population in Andhra Pradesh is estimated to be about one lakh. The Jain population in USA is estimated to be about 130,000.

Reachout's News Bureau
 March' 2009