In society today, social evils predominantly rule. There are now more problems than solutions. Amidst these, social entrepreneurs have come to our rescue.
Social entrepreneurs are those adventurous, dare devils who drive deep into the pressing problems of society and try to find solutions to them, not by leaving the responsibilities in the reins of the government or business, but by trying to change systems as a whole and persuading societies to take new initiatives. Below are the top 10 social entrepreneurs of our country:
Jeroo Billmoria
Jeroo Billmoria is an accomplished social entrepreneur and the founder of several international NGOs. Her pursuits have earned her accolades with Ashoka Innovations for the Public, the Skill Foundation and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Her work has also been published in reputed newspapers such as The Economist and the like. Her recent ventures comprise Aflatoun, Childline India Foundation and Child Helpline International.
Ajaita Shah
Her aim is to start at the grass root level, beginning technologies of the highest grade at cheaper prices to rural India. Business Week ranks her as the most influential leader under 30, working for a tenure of 5 years in SKS Microfinance and Ujjivan Financial Services. Frontier Markets organisation is her brain child. Being a 2012 Echoing Green Fellow is to be of aid to 30 million rural households in the next 3 years.
Harish Hande
Founder of SELCO, he has a reputation of installing 120,000 systems in Karnataka, his aim being-making renewable resources the predominant source of energy in rural India. Stressing as an observer of minute details, he letter grew into an innovator and a social entrepreneur.
Sushmita Ghosh
She deals mainly with craft and restore from rural India, contributing to the present success of Rangasutra (a for-profit venture) and retailing from FabIndia. She collects, what she calls ‘priceless’ products from these talented and dedicated villagers and helps them earn their living they deserve.
Trilochan Shastry
Often a simple act of bravery can move mountains. That is the story of this social entrepreneur. He filed a PIL which later turned into a judgement coaxing politicians to confess to their misdeeds. His efforts led to the form of ADR (Associations for Democratic Reform) responsible for scrutinising the elections every 5 years. Politicians now are more answerable and it is also spreading awareness among the public as to what the Fundamental Rights by the Constitution of India really entail.
Hanumappa Sudarshan
Winner of the Indian Social Entrepreneur of the year 2014, awarded by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. He is the founder of the Karuna Trust, associated with healthcare services. The award is under the reputed Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneur.
Akansha Hazari
A multitasker from her youth, Akansha is a social entrepreneur, peace negotiator and businesswoman. She hooks the reputation of being honored by President Bill Clinton with $1,000,000, for her ventures in solving global water crisis in the form of m.Paani.
Shaheen Mistry
She deals with the most pressing problem of India today- education, with the help of a luxury available only to middle-class children. He introduces slum children to schools which only admit students from rich backgrounds, helping to reduce illiteracy from the grass root level.
Aditya Baran Mallick
The Institution for Quality Skill Training was his creation. This institution comes to the aid of the youth from poor backgrounds to invest gold in Jharkhand for a better living. Stretched over 13 states, it aims to admit 50,000 students annually. It now has a turnover of Rs. 2.5 crore, being funded by Kitendo Capital (a Switzerland based angel impact investment fund).
Chetna Vijay Sinha
Founder of Mann Deshi Manila Sahakari Bank for rural women, she is also the winner of the 2013 India Social Entrepreneur of the Year. It aims to provide financial support to these women.
Social Entrepreneurs have become invaluable to society and are yet to enter as a mainstream profession. They are possibly the only sect of professionals who do not work for money but for the benefit and overall welfare of society. They have indeed, proved to be of great help to all people at large.
