The Shailaja Nair Foundation (SNF) was set up by FEI Cargo Limited in the fond memory of its founder director Mrs. Shailaja Nair who was born in Mumbai on June 24, 1960.
Shailaja grew up in an environment, based on the values of humanity. Religion to her was universal. Faith in a common God and the ethos of service to mankind were imbibed in her from a very young age. She was truly a people’s person and was loved by all.
SNF is an NGO committed towards the welfare of the under-privileged, especially in the rural areas. The foundation provides a free ambulance service and runs a reference library in a backward village of Kerala. Following in to the footsteps of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, SNF is in the process of implementing PURA (Providing Urban Facilities in Rural Areas).
Apart from holding blood donation camps, SNF plans to adopt an entire village, by taking the onus of its overall development including Education, Health Care, Employment, etc.
Shailaja Nair is the ‘living’ inspiration behind FEI’s corporate social responsibility.
When you come into this world, you come crying
and they stand around you laughing.
When you leave this world, leave it laughing
so that that stand around you crying
Born in Mumbai on 24th June 1960, Shailaja was the youngest of four siblings. She grew up in an environment inculcated on the values of a common religion called humanity. A typical day in Shailaja's life would begin with a prayer. Her communication with God would include not only her family's well-being, but that of the entire world!
Her synergy of life revolved around people and places. An extrovert, Shailaja would remain surrounded by friends, colleagues and relatives. As a travel enthusiast, she was fond of nature sojourns and religious trips. Shailaja was also an inter-school athletics champion. Throughout her life, she remained a keen follower of sports and had a grand wish of building a school dedicated to sports!
Shailaja strongly believed in the art of 'giving.' Her concern for the under-privileged would often see her supporting the cause of education and health. She would go out of her way to help NGOs such as Cheshire Home, CRY, etc in the best possible ways.
Once, Shailaja’s company FEI Cargo Limited, of which she was a founder director, decided to produce a desk calendar. Instead of the routine glamour or landscapes, she conceptualized the idea of featuring twelve deserving NGOs. Each month depicted the photographs, activities and achievements of an NGO. Perhaps, no one had ever thought of such a theme concept that would evoke feelings of compassion and giving.
Shailaja knew that the dates on this unique calendar had a new objective altogether. Unfortunately, she had to keep her date with God. Shailaja did not live to see her pet project and left for her heavenly abode on 9th September 2007.
Before joining her husband Pratap Nair in his modest cargo business, Shailaja was working for Bharat Petroleum’s (BPCL) finance division in Mumbai. However, as Pratap’s business started growing, he was keen on Shailaja managing his company’s finances. Shailaja acceded to the idea and together they formed FEI Cargo Limited. She took over the reins as the Director of Finance while Pratap and his team managed the Sales and Operations.
FEI grew into a respectable organization with 19 offices across India and 52 partners worldwide. Along with growth came the need to hire more hands, and soon FEI was family to more than 300 people. Back in Mumbai, she would celebrate every festival (irrespective of the religion it belonged to) with her team. But since it was not possible for FEItians from all offices to converge at one place every time there was a festival, she felt sad. How could she keep the entire FEI family in touch? She wondered. And then came the idea of a new communication vehicle – an interactive in-house magazine which would become an integral resource of staying in touch, not only with the employees, but even with their families!
My Role In FEI Is To:
"Good people pass away,
The Godly often die before their time.
But no one seems to care or wonder why.
No one seems to understand that
God is protecting them from the evil to come.
For those who follow Godly paths
will rest in peace when they die."
- Isaiah 57:1-2
The Shailaja Nair Foundation (SNF) was set up by FEI Cargo Limited in her fond memory.
Being an Indian Multinational with a heart, FEI has always advocated social welfare. To this end, Shailaja Nair Foundation (SNF) – FEI’s CSR division – was established and its aim is the upliftment of women and children. FEI has provided free ambulance services, reading rooms, libraries, sports equipment and computers to selected schools in villages. SNF is an NGO committed towards the welfare of the under-privileged, especially in the rural areas. Following into the footsteps of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, SNF is in the process of implementing PURA (Providing Urban Facilities in Rural Areas). Apart from holding blood donation camps in Mumbai and Satara, SNF has donated computer systems to a village school near Pune in Maharashtra. It has plans of adopting an entire village, by taking the onus of its overall development including Education, Health Care, Employment, etc.
SNF believes that all-round development of children is incomplete without sports. To transform a young man’s dream into reality, FEI is sponsoring him and his endeavour to become the fastest Indian driver. SNF has also partnered with the inspiring P.T. Usha, to support the functioning of a training school for fifteen girls of whom she wishes to see at least one mount the podium during the 2016 Olympiad.
SNF is also partnering with award-winning magician, Shri. Gopinath Muthukad to create a Magical Planet for children.
Another initiative is the ICE Awards *(In-house Communication Excellence), dedicated to any organization that publishes an in-house magazine. The award wishes to honour those organisations who publish the best magazine that promotes bonding amongst its employees and other stake holders. An in-house magazine is a vital tool in bringing together the employer, employees and their families. ICE Awards aims to bring into the limelight those people who work behind-the-scenes in creating this communication tool.
Shailaja Nair is the ‘living’ inspiration behind FEI’s corporate social responsibility.
For Shailaja Nair, communication was the strongest bond of any relationship. ICE Awards is dedicated to her strong belief in the art of written communication. It was instituted in the year 2009 and is an attempt to keep alive the print medium, especially the in-house communiqué which is the only catalyst that connects employer-employee and their families. And to reward the good efforts of the best in-house communication.
Incase you would like to join hands with us on our work to help people, please find below the banking details for Shailaja Nair Foundation:
Bank Name - HDFC Bank
A/C No. - 00862560004051
IFSC Code - HDFC0000086
