A social entrepreneur is a person who takes on a social issue and deals with it in an innovative way or solution. Most entrepreneurs invest in businesses that show promise and signs of profit in the future. However, a social entrepreneur’s goal isn’t to profit but to help society and social issues. They bring about a change in society by using business tactics and processes.
What is social entrepreneurship?
Social entrepreneurship recognizes social evils and works towards achieving better societal standards. Typical businesses operate on the model of opening newer business routes or creating new work opportunities. They are more profit-driven and work with that goal in mind. On the other hand, a social entrepreneur does not focus on monetary gains and works on creating ingenious ways to help society. Being an entrepreneur can be a challenging role to play. A lot is riding on business ideas with no promise of returns. However, working for social causes will make the path even more difficult. In India, being a social entrepreneur means generating employment for a reason and helping underprivileged communities grow. They work at low costs with shortages of funds and employees.
Here are 7 Indian Social Entrepreneurs you should know about:
Harish Hande
Harish Hande is one of the most remarkable social entrepreneurs of India. He is the CEO of Selco, a company that provides sustainable energy sources to rural areas of the nation.
Hanumappa Sudarshan
Hanumappa Sudarshan is a tribal rights activist. He founded the Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra in 1980 that provides health care facilities to the tribal population of Karnataka. He was awarded the Padma Shri for his efforts to help the underprivileged in Karnataka and Arunachal Pradesh.
Urvashi Sahni
Urvashi Sahni got the social entrepreneur of the year award in 2017. She helps the specially-abled girls and provides them with education and training. Her foundation has changed the lives of many young girls.
Anshu Gupta
Anshu Gupta created the NGO ‘Goonj’ in 1999. The NGO takes donations from households in the form of clothing and then distributes them to the underprivileged. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award in 2004.
Kiran Verma
Kiran Verma is the founder of Simply Blood which he started in 2017. His vision is to create a world by 31 December 2025 where nobody will die due to lack of blood. It is s virtual blood donation program that connects blood donors. It has over 10,000 registered users in over 180 countries. Through Simply Blood Kiran has saved over 25,000 lives.
Dimple Parmar
Dimple lost her husband to cancer and has ever since dedicated her life towards providing cancer patients with guidance regarding their treatment and care. They provide medical treatment such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy as well as complementary treatments such as anti-cancer diet and Ayurveda. She is the co-founder of ZenOnco, an integrative oncology care centre as well as an NGO love heals cancer. She was awarded ‘TOP 100 healthcare leaders’ for her work in public health. She is a pioneer in integrative cancer research and treatment in India.
Aarushi Batra
Aarushi Batra, along with her friends, started the foundation known as ‘Robin Hood Army’. They provide food and rations to the poor. Her foundation works globally in over 50 cities. She has helped millions of people through this foundation and is one of the youngest social entrepreneurs.
In a nation like India, where most of the population lives in poverty, underfed and unemployed, Social entrepreneurs are an integral part of the community that helps millions find a better life and protect many young children from starvation. It is a noble cause with immense value for the country.
