Career as social entrepreneur

Ranjan K Baruah *

We have published articles related to social work, rural management, development studies, entrepreneurship, etc. Today, we are going to discuss a new vista in career called 'social entrepreneurship' .

Well, social entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to society's problems like poverty, illiteracy, etc. They are determined and continual, tackling major social issues and offering new ideas for wide-scale change. It is the attempt to draw upon business techniques to find solutions to social problems.

This concept may be applied to a variety of organizations with different sizes, aims, and beliefs and processes. Conventional entrepreneurs typically measure performance in profit and return, but social entrepreneurs also take into account a positive return to society.

Social entrepreneurship typically attempts to further broad social, cultural, and environmental goals and is often associated with the voluntary sector for social transformation.

Social enterprises or social entrepreneurs may bring change in society in different way. A very good example of social entrepreneurship and a social entrepreneur is 'Grameen Bank of Bangladesh' created by Mohd Yunus as a micro-finance initiative towards providing economic independence to lower income group thereby making them masters of their own destiny.

Social entrepreneurs provide people with jobs, it empowers local communities, it builds skills and capacity among communities, etc.

There are courses available in this area, Tata Institute of Social Science offers Master Programme related to Social Entrepreneurship. There are different organisation focusing on social entrepreneurship.

'Ashoka' is the largest network of social entrepreneurs worldwide, with nearly 3,000 Ashoka Fellows in 70 countries putting their system changing ideas into practice on a global scale.

Founded by Bill Drayton in 1980, Ashoka has provided start-up financing, professional support services, and connections to a global network across the business and social sectors, and a platform for people dedicated to changing the world.

Ashoka launched the field of social entrepreneurship and has activated multi-sector partners across the world who increasingly look to entrepreneurial talent and new ideas to solve social problems.

Updates

Civil Services Examination 2015: Preliminary Examination of the Civil Services Examination for the recruitment in different services and posts shall be held on 23rd August by Union Public Service Commission. Aspirants may visit UPSC's website for details.

Indian Forest Service Examination 2015: The Union Public Service Commission will hold a screening test for selection to Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2015 through Civil Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2015 which will be hold on 23rd August in accordance with the rules published by the ministry of Environment, forests and Climate Change in the Gazette of India dated 23rd May 2015.

Scholarship from HDFC Bank: HDFC Bank is offering Educational Crisis Scholarship Support (ECSS) programme for Indian students. Educational Crisis Scholarship Support programme is envisaged to provide interim support for children facing a personal/economic exigency. ECSS aims to cover students from recognized Private or Government aided schools between standards 6 and 12 and students studying in undergraduate and post-graduate courses (full-time/part-time degree/diploma/ courses) who are unable to continue bearing the cost of education and are at risk of dropping out of school/college/university.

The Scholarship will cover the total annual School Fee upto a maximum of Rs.10, 000/- and College/ University Fee upto a maximum of Rs.25, 000/- of the selected candidates. Students having an annual family income of not more than Rs.3, 00,000/- (Rupees three lakhs only) may apply. Last of applying for the scholarship is 5th July.