Gandhiji was a social entrepreneur

Summary/Excerpts

The social entrepreneur of the year award started by you is in its second year now. What prompted you to introduce it?

It is a joint venture, partly developed on an international scale by Schwab Foundation. It is part of the World Economic Forum and was started on a global basis. We were interested in India alone so, we partnered with the United Nations Development Programme, the CII and Schwab to create what will become a long-term institution.

he Khemka Foundation focuses on being strategic in philanthropy. It is not keen on a school here and a clinic there. It wants to popularise philanthropy that goes beyond the immediate.

What does it have to achieve social change?

Imagine finding Muhammad Yunus as a young man and being able to back his efforts. The award is basically an attempt to promote would-be Yunuses. We have received a wonderful response. About 100 responses are in already. We want to get the word out.

But how can an award help?

There are business entrepreneurs creating business value. We want entrepreneurs who can create massive social benefit. Just a concept cannot suffice. It needs to be backed by funds, foundations, partners and governments to scale up the good. What Schwab created is a powerful global network of governments, businesses, funding agencies and various organisations.