Definition: Social entrepreneurship involves identifying social problems and using entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage ventures that address these issues. Unlike traditional businesses, social enterprises prioritize social impact alongside financial sustainability.
Importance of Social Entrepreneurship:
Addressing Social Issues: Social entrepreneurs tackle
pressing issues such as poverty, education, healthcare, and environmental
sustainability. For example, Selco India, founded by Harish Hande, provides
affordable solar energy solutions to underserved communities in India.
Promoting Inclusive Growth: Social enterprises often work
in marginalized communities, creating opportunities for those who are typically
excluded from economic progress.
Sustainable Development: Social entrepreneurship aligns
with the principles of sustainable development by balancing economic growth
with social equity and environmental protection.
Innovation in Social Services: Social entrepreneurs bring
innovation to sectors like education, healthcare, and sanitation, improving the
quality and accessibility of these services. Teach For India, for example,
works to bridge the educational gap in India by placing high-achieving
graduates in low-income schools as teachers.
Examples of social entrepreneurs:
Social entrepreneurs in India are making a significant
impact by addressing pressing social challenges through innovative and
sustainable solutions.
1. Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak: Founder of Sulabh International
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak is a pioneering social entrepreneur known for his work in
sanitation and hygiene. He founded Sulabh International in 1970 to provide
affordable and accessible sanitation facilities in India. His efforts have
helped millions of people, particularly in rural areas, gain access to proper
toilets, improving public health and dignity, especially for women.
2. Harish Hande: Co-founder of SELCO India
Harish Hande co-founded SELCO India in 1995 with a mission to provide affordable
and sustainable solar energy solutions to underserved communities in rural
India. Through SELCO, he has empowered thousands of low-income households and
small businesses by giving them access to clean, renewable energy, improving
their quality of life and productivity.
3. Anshu Gupta: Founder of Goonj
Anshu Gupta founded Goonj in 1999, an NGO that uses urban waste materials to
create resources for marginalized communities in rural India. Goonj's flagship
initiative is its "Cloth for Work" program, which turns discarded
clothing into an incentive for rural communities to work on local
infrastructure projects. Gupta’s work has promoted the dignity of labor while
addressing issues of poverty and resource scarcity.
4. Shaheen Mistri: Founder of Akanksha Foundation and CEO
of Teach For India
Shaheen Mistri is the founder of the Akanksha Foundation (1991) and the CEO of Teach
For India (2008), both of which focus on improving educational opportunities
for children from low-income communities. Through Teach For India, Mistri has
been working to eliminate educational inequity by recruiting young
professionals to teach in under-resourced schools, impacting thousands of
students across the country.
5. Jeroo Billimoria: Founder of Childline India and
Aflatoun International
Jeroo Billimoria is a globally recognized social entrepreneur who founded Childline
India in 1996, a 24/7 helpline for children in distress. Childline has helped
millions of vulnerable children across India, providing rescue, rehabilitation,
and support services. Billimoria is also the founder of Aflatoun International,
which promotes financial literacy and social education for children worldwide.
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