Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish, or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry. - Bill Drayton
(Founder, Ashoka Venture Capitalist)
The world today is witnessing the rise of a nascent cult. A cult which combines the passion of a social mission with business- like discipline, innovation and determination, i.e. a cult of social entrepreneurs.
A social entrepreneur is someone who identifies a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create and manage a venture to social change. A list of a few Indians whose work exemplifies social entrepreneurship are Shri Vinobha Bhave (founder of India’s land gift movement ), Dr.M.S.Swaminathan ( the brain behind the Green Revolution), Dr.Verghese Kurien (founder of AMUL) and dairy farmers of Gujarat who started Amul
Social enterprises are more than profit organizations which evaluate its growth not by annual turnovers or dividends but also by the measure of its impact on development of the human society. The more its impact on the society, the more successful the social enterprise is. The greatest advantage of a social enterprise is its capacity to reach the unreached.
For example, the Grameen Bank, a micro finance organization founded by Noble Laurette Dr.Muhammad Yunus ,has access to more than 80% of Bangladesh’s poor, a customer base which traditional business firms can never even dream of.
Also the best part of starting a social business is that even if the project fails economically, the impact it created in the society always leaves us a feeling which no material gain can ever compliment.
In the recent times of economic turbulence, social entrepreneurship is indeed a good career option because it can help in creating more jobs while simultaneously making the world a better place to live. The students must show interest towards such social businesses, not only from a philanthropic point of view but also from a view point of catering to the needs of the rural India which is mostly an untapped sector.
On the other side, it is true that certain amount of risks is involved in taking up social entrepreneurship as a profession. But it has to be remembered that all great things on earth are accomplished by those who see possibilities rather than problems created by a risk.
- Yashasvi and Snehit, Nirmaan Goa Team
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I feel people should engage more in social activities in order to completely understand the fundamental problems before starting a social business. I feel that professionals working in various companies should show interest and work towards this aspect. They can spend some time during weekends instead of just relaxing at home with friends and relatives.
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