INTRODUCTION:-

Social entrepreneurship is the work of a social entrepreneur. A social entrepreneur

is someone who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to

organize, create, and manage a venture to make social change. Whereas a business

entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a social entrepreneur

assesses success in terms of the impact s/he has on society as well as in profit and return.

While social entrepreneurs often work through nonprofits and citizen groups, many are

now working in the private and governmental sectors and making a real impact on society.

The main aim of a social entrepreneurship as well as social enterprise is to further

social and environmental goals for a good cause. Although social entrepreneurs are often

non-profits, this need not be incompatible with making a profit. Social enterprises are for

‘more-than-profit,’ using blended value business models that combine a revenue-

generating business with a social-value-generating structure or component. A social

entrepreneur in the 21st century will redefine entrepreneurship as we know it due to their

progressive business models.

Social Entrepreneurs are innovators who implement practical and sustainable

solutions to address challenges in numerous areas including health, education,

environment, access to technology and job creation. Whether they are set up as for profit

entities, hybrid social ventures or not for profit organizations, their primary focus is

transformational social change. Social entrepreneurs develop a revenue stream through the

sale of products, services, fees or develop key partnerships to achieve sustainability.

Entrepreneurs are innovative, highly-motivated, and critical thinkers. When these attributes

are combined with the drive to solve social problems, a Social Entrepreneur is born.

Rather than leaving societal needs to the government or business sectors, Social

Entrepreneurs find what is not working and solve the problem by changing the system,

spreading the solution, and persuading entire societies to take new leaps.

Social Entrepreneurs often seem to be possessed by their ideas, committing their

lives to changing the direction of their field. They are both visionaries and ultimate realists,

concerned with the practical implementation of their vision above all else.

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Each Social Entrepreneur presents ideas that are user-friendly, understandable,

ethical, and engage widespread support in order to maximize the number of local people

that will stand up, seize their idea, and implement with it.

In other words, every leading Social Entrepreneur is a mass recruiter of local

change makers role model proving that citizens who channel their passion into action can

do almost anything.

Over the past two decades, the citizen sector has discovered what the business

sector learned long ago: There is nothing as powerful as a new idea in the hands of a first-

class entrepreneur.

Why “Social” Entrepreneur? Just as entrepreneurs change the face of business,

social entrepreneurs act as the change agents for society, seizing opportunities others miss

and improving systems, inventing new approaches, and creating solutions to change

society for the better.

While a business entrepreneur might create entirely new industries, a social

entrepreneur comes up with new solutions to social problems and then implements them on

a large scale.

DEFINITION:- BY SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS.

“ Social entrepreneurship is defined as having the following three components:

- (1) identifying a stable but inherently unjust equilibrium that causes the exclusion,

marginalization, or suffering of a segment of humanity that lacks the financial means or

political clout to achieve any transformative benefit on its own;

- (2) identifying an opportunity in this unjust equilibrium, developing a social value

proposition, and bringing to bear inspiration, creativity, direct action, courage, and

fortitude, thereby challenging the stable state’s hegemony;

- and (3) forging a new, stable equilibrium that releases trapped potential or alleviates the

suffering of the targeted group, and through imitation and the creation of a stable

ecosystem around the new equilibrium ensuring a better future for the targeted group and

even society at large."

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“Social entrepreneurship is the work of a social entrepreneur. A social

entrepreneur is someone who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial

principles to organize, create, and manage a venture to make social change. Whereas a

business entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a social

entrepreneur assesses success in terms of the impact s/he has on society.” 

There are 3 key components that emerge out of this definition and are more of less

common when it comes other variations of the definition of Social Entrepreneurship:

1) the problem

2) a sustainable solution

3) social change

WHO IS A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR?

Social entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to society’s most

pressing social problems. They are ambitious and persistent, tackling major social issues

and offering new ideas for wide-scale change. Rather than leaving societal needs to the

government or business sectors, social entrepreneurs find what is not working and solve

the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution, and persuading entire societies

to take new leaps.

Social entrepreneurs often seem to be possessed by their ideas, committing their

lives to changing the direction of their field. They are both visionaries and ultimate realists,

concerned with the practical implementation of their vision above all else.

Each social entrepreneur presents ideas that are user-friendly, understandable,

ethical, and engage widespread support in order to maximize the number of local people

that will stand up, seize their idea, and implement with it. In other words, every leading

social entrepreneur is a mass recruiter of local changemakers—a role model proving that

citizens who channel their passion into action can do almost anything. Over the past two

decades, the citizen sector has discovered what the business sector learned long ago: There

is nothing as powerful as a new idea in the hands of a first-class entrepreneur.

Social Entrepreneurship is about applying pragmatic, highly innovative and market

oriented approached to benefit the marginalized and less privilege in society. This is to do

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with entrepreneurship with a great social value. Social entrepreneurship has been identified

as one of the yardsticks in the fight against poverty and the attainment of the Millennium

Development Goals MDG’S.

ROLE OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS:-

Social entrepreneurs recognizes the parts of society having difficulties, solves the

problem by changing the system, spreading the solution, and persuading societies. Social

entrepreneurs drive to produce measurable impact to address social and environmental

problems that are often deep-seated.

• To make a positive impact on society:

Social entrepreneurs are similar to business entrepreneur in the society with a purpose

for a social cause. Often, social entrepreneur need profit but emphasis is on the

development of the society and in solving the problems in it. Finding the effects of social

or environmental problem, finding root cause, and solving them becomes obvious to social

entrepreneur.

• With focus on positive change:

Social entrepreneur focus on daunting social problems to make a positive change,

further motivating common people to persuade the same. Corporate social entrepreneur can

reap strategic benefits with a combination of commercial aims and social objectives.

• Rev up the social team:

While social entrepreneurs often work through nonprofits and citizen groups, many

work in the private and governmental sectors. Social entrepreneurs work with local groups

motivate them to pursue, and develop good solutions for their local communities as well as

globally.

• In innovative and effective community building:

Distinct from business entrepreneurs who seek value in the creation of new markets,

social entrepreneurs aim for value in the form of transformational change that will benefit

underprivileged group of people and eventually society at large.

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IS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP REALLY A *NEW* TREND?

Strictly speaking no. Considering its broad definition no one can deny that its

practice is far more ancient.  The roots and first usage of the term ‘Social

Entrepreneurship’ can be dated back in the literature of social change in 1960’s and

1970’s. What is rather new is the trend of categorizing these socially entrepreneurial

ventures as Social Enterprises fuelled by a recent influx of capital availability to fund such

initiatives. Add to this mix an emerging trend towards sustainable businesses, triple bottom

line and Base of the Pyramid economics and what you get is a explosive mix of buzzword

compliant newsworthy story. Sarcasm if any in my earlier sentence is not intended but

merely is a reflection of a true representation of the landscape.

Just as entrepreneurs change the face of business, social entrepreneurs act as the change

agents for society, seizing opportunities others miss and improving systems, inventing new

approaches and creating sustainable solutions to change society for the better. However,

unlike business entrepreneurs who are motivated by profits, social entrepreneurs are

motivated to improve society.

Social entrepreneurs and their enterprise have a significant role on the society.

Social entrepreneurs have been a boon for the society. Many individuals in the society who

have been suffering from some or the other social problems have been benefited from such

social entrepreneurs. Some time the government of the country cannot solve all the

problems of the people in society because of many reasons. In such cases this Social

entrepreneurs work effectively and solve the problem of the society.

Social entrepreneurs join hands with the individuals in the society and solve their

problems.

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AREAS OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS:-

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YOUNG SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS

It is rightly said that the future of a country lies in the hands of a present young

generation of the country. If the youth of the country is responsible the country will

prosper.

Now a days it is seen that the youth is coming together with the ideas of solving

social problems of the society and therby give the people of the society an peacefully

environment to live within.

Who is a Young Social Entrepreneur?

Young Social Entrepreneurs are young individuals with innovative solutions to

society’s most pressing social problems. They are ambitious and persistent, tackling major

social issues and offering new ideas for wide-scale change.

Young people always change the world. Alexander the Great won over Egypt,

Persia and was getting deep into the then unknown world before he was 30...This is mainly

due to their excess energy as well as their ability to not know what is impossible...The only

thing new is that young social entrepreneurs are bearers of the new force to create a

sustainable future for the world".

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HERE IS A SIMPLE WAY OF HOW TO BECOME A SOCIAL

ENTREPRENEUR:-

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SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN INDIA.

India is a key country to look for leading social entrepreneurs, says Klaus Schwab,

executive chairman and founder of the World Economic Forum, as his Schwab Foundation

prepares to shortlist a winner for the Indian Social Entrepreneur Award for the second

year.

"India has some of the most advanced and innovative social entrepreneurs. We

believe and already see that many of the models developed in India, for instance rainwater

harvesting for schools pioneered by Barefoot College, are exported around the world. India

is therefore a key country to look for leading social entrepreneurs," Klaus Schwab told

IANS in an exclusive interview.

Last year the first Social Entrepreneurship Award in India went to leading

cardiologist Devi Prasad Shetty, founder of Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore.

The awards are given with a view to highlighting social entrepreneurship as a key

element to advance societies and address social problems in a pioneering way. This year

there were close to 100 applicants, eight of whom have since been short-listed before a

final decision is taken.

Based in Switzerland, the Schwab Foundation started by Klaus Schwab and his

wife Hilde initiated this second complementary foundation to the World Economic Forum,

which he founded in 1970.

They came across Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank,

winners of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, and decided to create a foundation that would

help to identify and disseminate such innovative solutions to crucial issues at an earlier

stage. Yunus has been an active board member of the foundation since its inception.

Schwab said: "In most countries social entrepreneurs, even the leading ones, are not

recognised. They have mainly been labelled 'crazy' by their environment.

"The Social Entrepreneur of the Year awards seek to highlight the outstanding

social entrepreneurs of a country as national role models. We hope this will inspire others

to either start a social enterprise or support one."

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This time around the Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation is working in partnership

with the Schwab Foundation and in collaboration with the UN Development Programme

and the Confederation of Indian Industry for the award.

In 2000, when the awards were instituted for the first time, they were more in the

form of general recognition of people's achievements. The competitive application and jury

selection format was not instituted till five years later.

Devi Prasad Shetty, who won the award last year, strives to make sophisticated

healthcare available to all irrespective of their economic situation or geographic location.

He founded the Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital in Bangalore in 2001 and previously co-

founded the Asia Heart Foundation.

In addition, Shetty has built a network of 39 telemedicine centres to reach out to

patients in remote rural areas.

Together, the network of hospitals performs 32 heart surgeries a day, making it one

of the busiest in the world. Almost half the patients are children and babies. Sixty percent

of the treatments are provided below cost or for free.

"We identify a social entrepreneur as someone who has created a hybrid

organisation that employs businesses methods. Its bottom line is social value creation,"

said Schwab.

"They plug the gap between the roles that governmental and philanthropic efforts

play, often solving societal problems not in opposition to or even at the charity of

corporations but rather in collaboration and mutual benefit to the private sector."

It is seen that many individuals are coming up with the ideas of setting up an social

enterprise in India. I think this is because India being a developing country possess a lot of

social problems like poverty, illteracy, child labour, child marriage, women exploitation,

unemployment etc.

All this factors inspires the innovative individual to start up with the social

enterprise and become social entrepreneurs.

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SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A CAREER:-

An individual can set up his career in social entrepreneurship. If any individual is

willing to set his career in social entrepreneurship he can obtain his career through various

courses which are provided by various institutions.

Now a days many young individuals acquire a qualifiacation in social

entrepreneurship and after completing it start up with their own social entreprise or else

join the other social enterprise wherein they enjoy a good position or status over their.

One of the most popular and well known institute in india for providing education

in the field of social entrepreneurship is TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

(TISS). It is located at Mumbai.

There are many other institutions all around India like in Chennai, Bangalore and in

Pune, which provide quality education in the field of social entrepreneurship.

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HOW DOES THE WHOLE PROCESS OF IDEA GENERATION

WORK OUT AND EVALUATION TAKES PLACE.

It’s a simple procee wherin the idea gets originated from the individual who really wants to

start up with the social enterprise. This ideas generally comes in the mind of an individual

from either seen some social problem in society.

Then this ideas are implemented with the support of knowledge, finance, mentorship and

network and then this ideas are evaluated. Generally the impact of this ides are beneficially

for the society.

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TODAY!

Depending upon the way in which we choose to view it, the strengths or

weaknesses of the concept of social entrepreneurship lie in the fact that most of its

applications are in the form of a hybrid between private, non-profit and public sectors. As

described, one such hybrid is found in non-profit organisations with an entrepreneurial

offshoot that generates revenue for the organisation’s social objectives. With greater

emphasis on the private, for-profit sector, a hybrid model is emerging whereby businesses

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lend money and expertise to non-profits. Increasingly, this latter model is linked to public

pressure for businesses to demonstrate a measure of social responsibility.

The most realistic and desirable way for any business to be socially responsible is through

what is called ‘‘strategic philanthropy’’ - selected giving in areas tied directly to the

company’s interests and in arenas that the company can justly claim to have knowledge

and a direct stake. The use of the term clearly suggests an indirect financial return on the

philanthropic investment. Indeed, the exercise of traditional philanthropy does not make

good business sense as it does not provide a tangible return. In a more refined

consideration of types of philanthropy today, the notion of strategic philanthropy yet

emphasises that highly motivated and visionary business leaders can bring together

networks of organizations in new community ventures.

Like the term ‘‘strategic philanthropy’’, ‘‘social entrepreneurship’’ is an articulation, a

combination of two concepts that do not naturally fit together and yet which seeks

acceptance as common sense. It is the lack of a natural fit that renders the term open to

resistance and challenge. Challenges, implicit or explicit, range from different

interpretations of how the terms might justifiably be joined to denial that they should be

used together at all.

Language is a key component in the shift towards rationalization of the concept of social

entrepreneurship. This is because discourse acceptance precedes or runs in parallel with

material acceptance. Thus we see the emergence of terms that were previously restricted to

the business sector, such as ‘‘social venture capital’’, ‘‘social return on investment’’,

‘‘invest’’ rather than ‘‘donate’’, ‘‘revenue streams’’ and ‘‘client groups’’ applied to the

social and public sectors.

If the colonisation of the social and public sectors by the language of business is accepted,

the breakdown of barriers between the sectors becomes normalised. However, the terms

cited are in contrast to the distinction between entrepreneurs who create social or artistic

capital rather than financial capital, with social capital referring to that which is valuable to

communities.

On the other hand, opposition could arise from the close association of the term

‘‘entrepreneur’’ with the creative and destructive aspects of capitalism. Those who are

concerned about the negative aspects of business will be resistant to the blurring of the

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boundaries between public, private and civil society suggested by social entrepreneurship

with the potential for increased influence of business beyond the private sector. The non-

profit sector has long been associated with the creation and maintenance of a strong civil

society. Marketing of that sector then calls that association into question with concerns for

the viability of an independent civil society.

Furthermore, if business has the power to choose which non-profits are to benefit

materially through socially entrepreneurial partnerships, what happens to those that are not

chosen and therefore are marginalised?

A parallel can be drawn between the concept of social entrepreneurship and that of

sustainability because sustainability is equally open to broad interpretation. Like social

entrepreneurship, sustainability can favour either the social and environmental or the

economic sectors, depending upon which model is adopted. Strong sustainability favours

the social and environmental over economic development, upholding the social values of a

truly civil society based social entrepreneurialism. Interpretations are derived from the

beliefs and experiences of individuals. Social entrepreneurs and their work should

ultimately be judged by the quality of the social outcomes, and that assessment should be

made independently of the private interests of those entrepreneurs.

With concepts and movements such as social entrepreneurship, environmental

sustainability, and social responsibility, it is crucial that we pay close attention to the

persuasive uses of the terms as well as to their practical implication. All of them are

contested, value-laden labels that can be used to reference a wide variety of interests,

motives, activities and outcomes.

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SOME SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS.

Sheetal Sanghvi, founder, The Urban Ashram

The urge to do something meaningful in life led Sheetal

Sanghvi to lay grounds for The Urban Ashram. Had he known

that the challenging times he faced would guide him to

becoming self-dependent, he would have blessed every

moment of those hardships.In existence for less than nine

months now, the ashram that is based in Pune is also

Sanghvi’s sweet abode.  

While narrating the incidents that inspired to follow a particular path, Sanghvi said,

“The seed for the urban ashram was sown during my first Vipassana intensive. I was going

through a very rough period in my life, when everything I did suddenly seemed empty,

meaningless… A particular series of unanticipated events had somehow managed to bring

my life to a stand still, leaving me with a sort of mental paralysis. It was around that time

that I started visiting Transitions, a community centre with a café, a book store, studios for

healing workshops, and Moksha, a yoga studio that offers yoga classes and workshops

throughout the day.”  He continued saying, “These two places were very helpful in helping

me understand the connection between the body-mind-spirit. I realised the importance of

taking care of myself at physical, mental, emotional as well as spiritual levels.

They visited these places almost whenever I found free time between my university

classes. The joy of learning in such places gave me a high; it felt like a celebration.”

And how did he come about the idea of setting up the ashram? “It so happened that when

they was in a Vipassana course, they was at a stage where they had to decide what they

wanted to do in life. they was nearly at the end of my 2 year MS in financial markets at the

Stuart School of Business, Chicago. On offer was the chance to work in some of the best

financial services firms in the world. On the other side was a deep inner conviction that my

life was best suited to understanding the nature of spirit, of exploration of the finer arts like

yoga and meditations, of the inner and the outer worlds.”

At that time, Sanghvi was also undergoing the churning of creating financial security

for his future. The pressures of watching all his fellow students undertake cushy jobs, and

take the responsibility of their family were taking their toll on him.

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Sanghvi was urgently seeking the kind work that would marry his passion as well as

provide a reasonable source of income that would allow him to live life independently.

“The idea to attempt the same model that I had seen work at Transitions and Moksha,

came instinctively. I thought of reconverting my old bungalow into a community space for

the promotion of yoga, meditation, arts, and related activities. In my mind’s eye I saw the

blueprint for the ashram begin to take shape. Slowly but surely, I was guided to people

who helped me nurture this dream.” 

He then took a year off to travel across the world. His journey took him to some of

the most amazing places, where he met some incredibly inspiring people. Places on the

itinerary included Bodh Gaya, Dharamshala, Rishikesh, Pondicherry in India as well as

Yogaville studios in New York, Chicago and San Francisco in the USA. Sanghvi spent a

considerable amount of time meditating and interacting with like minded people in these

places. 

“I was sure that now I wanted nothing more than to live my dream of creating a space

where people could come to explore life in its many dimensions. Coming back home it was

an effort to persuade my family to allow me to renovate our bungalow. I feel blessed that

my family understood my soul’s yearnings and heeded to my desires. As my favorite quote

from The Alchemist reads, ‘When you desire something, the whole Universe conspires to

bring it to you’. Indeed, a lot of events started happening unexpectedly that helped me

manifest the urban ashram.”

Along with classes on yoga, meditation, arts and crafts, the Urban Ashram also

started hosting workshops on healing arts like pranic healing, art of living, health

awareness, dance and drama therapy, inspirational movie screenings, book clubs and

drumming circles, among other.

The ashram recently started an in-house shop that supports the swadeshi movement,

with khadi clothes, aroma candles from ashrams in India, locally produced handicrafts and

books. “We will be soon start a café and an art gallery too that will help us take our

initiative closer to completion,” said Sanghvi. “It’s only now after these nine months that

we are beginning to get a sense of the enormity of the vision that has been undertaken. All

I can say is that we are never given a dream without being given the ability to live it. Go

on, live your dreams!”

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Aruna and Prashant, Co Founders, Bamboo House India

Bamboo for Green Livelihoods ...

Answer a question for me…What is the

fastest growing plant on Earth? The answer

is… the Bamboo and if you knew that, I

would be surprised, mainly because I did

not know the answer till now and partly because it is a little known fact that the Bamboo is

the fastest-growing plant on Earth; it has been clocked surging skyward as fast as 121 cm

(47.6 inches) in a 24-hour period, and can also reach maximal growth rate exceeding one

meter (39 inches) per hour for short periods of time and you know “the needle of

Alaxender Graham bell’s first phonograph was made of bamboo” and ”Thomas Alva

Edison’s first light bulb used a filament made of carbonized bamboo, this light bulb still

burns today in Smithsonian Museum in Washington, Which is very good news indeed, for

Aruna and Prashant who have banked on the versatile yet humble Bamboo; and its

incredible abilities. Not only can you eat it, you can drink out of it, make houses with it

and also the furniture and that’s just a few of the things you can do with Bamboo. In 2008

the duo recognized it potential and established "Bamboo House India" with the focus on

the many uses of this fast growing plant.

Bamboo House India" is a social enterprise with an aim of providing sustainable livelihood

opportunities to rural and tribal artisans in the bamboo sector through business models

designed to work at base of the economic pyramid and promote bamboo as an eco friendly

substitute to wood, steel, iron & plastic.

Bamboo applications range from bamboo pens to bamboo t-shirts to bamboo laptops to

bamboo speakers to bamboo soap to bamboo sanitary napkins to bamboo bullet proof

jackets to bamboo perfume to bamboo shirts to watch to bamboo camera to housing to

bamboo furniture to bamboo yarn to bamboo oil etc, there are more than 1500 documented

and 5000 undocumented uses of bamboo.

The very purpose of the enterprise is to create long

term, sustainable, non -migratory business model for the

rural and tribal artisans in the bamboo sector by using

locally available green raw material i.e. bamboo. Bamboo &

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its products have always suffered from poor market linkages and regulatory constraints

affecting the raw material despite enormous market size. If exploited properly, bamboo can

help more than 5 million of our population cross the poverty line. Also, country's natural

forests are under threat as demand for timber is expected to touch 153 million cubic meters

by 2020 and country's timber import bill is boiling at Rs. 4000 crores (2005-06). Today,

customers are shopping for eco friendly products & Bamboo can come handy to fulfill

socio, economic and environmental needs of the country.

Bamboo House India is working on setting up chain of exclusive bamboo showrooms

across the country and commercialse IIT-Delhi’s bamboo bow beam technology for rural

housing. Indian rural housing shortage stands at staggering 6.7 million dwelling units and

need of the hour is cost effective and efficient solution for this and Bamboo House India in

partnership with IIT-D is working towards addressing this issue.

The venture sounds commendable but how exactly does someone make money from

bamboo? After all it’s not as expensive as wood or nearly as profitable as a conventional

cash crop like tobacco.

We at Bamboo House India are investing to create triple bottom line returns.

Financial: Indian Market potential of Bamboo based products is estimated to be Rs.26,

000/- Cores by the year 2015. Bamboo Furniture market is estimated at 3625 crores and

Bamboo Housing market stands at 1100 Crores.

Social: If tapped properly can help more than 5 million of our population cross the poverty

line and Bamboo

Environmental: Bamboo minimizes CO2 gases and generates up to 35% more oxygen

then equivalent stand of trees

What makes the venture unique and an economically feasible reality is that nobody in

the country till date has tried to get the entire bamboo industry under one roof. It is very

difficult for commercial entrepreneurs to venture into bamboo, only social entrepreneurs

can try this line that too with in depth grass root domain expertise, starting from tissue

culture plant material to Indian Forest Act to working in high insurgency area to

understanding various bamboo species and understanding tribal mindset all goes into

making a business model.  Thus they have a First mover advantage added to the complex

domain expertise to add to their merits.

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Partnerships & Tie –Ups

Bamboo House India is supported in its initiative by 

National Mission on Bamboo Application (NMBA)

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT – Delhi)

Andhra Pradesh Forest Department (APFD)

Tripura Bamboo Mission (TBM)

Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services ( IL & FS)

Andhra Pradesh Technology Promotion & Development Centre (APTDC)

The complexity, risk, challenges and uncertainty involved in the complex bamboo scenario

in the country imparts an adrenaline rush of motivation to the duo to continue the journey

which they have no plans of giving up. By 2010 they plan to set up at least 3-5 exclusive

bamboo showrooms across the country under a PPP model which as such has never been

tried in the country. They will also get government branding for the same and ensure round

the year employment opportunities to the rural/tribal population of the country, promote

green products and give a boost to the bamboo industry in the country.   

They believe that Having an Idea, Believing in that idea coupled with the ability to execute

that idea with a pinch of Clarity + Focus + Patience + Long term vision with a dash of Risk

taking ability and tenacity spells the perfect recipe for success like a pot of freshly cooked

Bamboo shoot curry. The Duo recommends the recipe to all readers at Yourstory and we

wish “Bon Appetit” to Aruna and Prashant hoping they taste success with "Bamboo House

India". 

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A CASE STUDY ON SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ZIQITZA HEALTH CARE LIMITED(ZHL)

Introduction

Ziqitza Health Care Limited (ZHL)

ZHL is a Social Enterprise. ZHL, is set up by a group of young professionals who,

after their education / training in the US and professional employment / entrepreneurial

projects in India, realized the acute need for organized and networked Ambulance service

in India for saving lives which may otherwise have been lost ONLY for want of timely

medical attention. Ziqitza health care operates the Emergency Medical Response

(Ambulance) Services under two models Dial '1298' for Ambulance (Popularly called 1298

model) – Fee for Service model with cross subsidy, where the rich and affordable pays

higher and the poor pays less, and for very poor/accidents/emergencies the service is free

of cost. Currently this service is operational in the city of Mumbai and the state of Kerala.

Dial '108' in Emergency (Popularly called 108 model) – This model is usually in public

private partnership with State Governments, this could be either free to patient or on a user

fee, as per the contract with State Governments. The service is provided to Emergency

victims. This model is operational in Bihar, Trivandrum, Rajasthan and Punjab.

The name ZIQITZA was derived from the Sanskrit word 'chikitsa', meaning

medical treatment and Zigyasa , meaning  quest for knowledge. Even our brand philosophy

is based on the great thought of Mahatma Gandhi that "saving a life is one of the most

rewarding experience a person can undergo in his / her lifetime".  

ZHL was set up  by a group of young Indian professionals  who, after their 

education, training and professional employment / entrepreneurial projects in the US and

India, realized the acute need  for organized and networked Ambulance service in India for

saving lives which may otherwise have been lost only for the want of timely medical

attention. 

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ZHL had been set up with a vision to assist in saving human lives by providing a

leading network of fully equipped Advanced and Basic Life Support Ambulances across

the developing world. ZHL is currently operating 860 Ambulances across Mumbai, Bihar,

Kerala, Punjab, Odisha and Rajasthan. ZHL has been the pioneer in introducing

‘Ambulance Outsourcing’ in India in 2011 and is currently managing and operating

Ambulances for leading Hospitals. ZHL has reputed investors like Acumen Fund,

GMR/AMR (USA largest Ambulance Company), HDFC, IDFC and India Value Fund on

board.

ZHL’s Strategic Partners include London Ambulance Services, Life Supporters

Institute of Health Science and New York Presbyterian Emergency Medical Service (NYP-

EMS). Since inception ZHL has served more than 16 00,000 people across India. The vast

experience ZHL has in this service and the processes they follow helps them to maintain

high quality standards in the service industry.

ZHL operates the Emergency Medical Response (Ambulance) Services under two

models: Dial '1298' for Ambulance: This model works on principle of cross subsidy

wherein the Ambulances are owned by ZHL and are made self sustainable by charging the

end user a charge which differ basis on the choice of the destination. The principle of cross

subsidy is used wherein:

Full charge to a patient going by choice to a private hospital. 

Subsidized charge to a patient going by choice to a government / municipal

hospital. 

Free service to accident victims, unaccompanied unconscious individuals and

victims of mass casualty incidents.

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Vision of ZHL 

'Be the leading Ambulance Service Provider of the Developing world'

Core Values of ZHL

Being Ethical

Being Transparent

Fostering Teamwork

Scope of ZHL

ZHL have launched Ambulance services in various parts of India in order to

reach out to the different sections of the society in times of emergency needs. ZHL has

always believed in providing world class service in terms of training, technology or people

to ensure 100% customer service.

Social initiatives by ZHL

 

Women Helpline

ZHL has not only stopped there limits upto emergency health care, but they have

steep out and spreaded out in women helpline too.

In the last few years, Mumbai which was considered as one of the safe cities for

women was seeing a sea change in this perception. In Dec 2008, the shocking

incident of 2 women being molested in front of a five star hotel, raised lot of

eyebrows and a desperate need was felt of a helpline facility which provides 24*7

support to women in distress. The same thought was reinstated by The Sheriff of

Mumbai Dr. Indu Shahani who in an interview expressed the need to have a helpline

and ZHL approached her to provide the service.

Thus on 28 January, 2008 '1298' women’s helpline was launched with the assistance

of leading 10 NGOs. The facility was by calling 1298 (which is also an Ambulance

number), women in distress would be directed to relevant NGOs who will counsel

and provide the assurance as per the need of the caller. The '1298' Women's

Helpline initiative is sponsored by Ross Group. 

ZHL Ambulance-A Boon for hospitals

With the global healthcare business growing at exponential rates, hospitals in India are

feeling the pressure to prioritize on their core competency – ‘managing their patients and

providing excellent treatments’. Most leading hospitals and nursing homes in India are

now focused on improving their core competence and have shifted focus on outsourcing

other aspects of hospital management like catering, housekeeping or pharmacy. One of the

key management issues faced by hospitals is managing their Ambulance fleet. To cater to

the acute need of well equipped and maintained fleet of Ambulances in hospitals,

Emergency Medical Services are being outsourced to state-of-the-art companies leaving

the end consumer hale & hearty.

And the benefits of the same are immense, as follows:-

Customization fitting hospital needs – Companies are now venturing into management and

operations support service for operating advanced Life-Support Ambulances of hospitals

and other institutions. Ziqitza provides hospitals with custom designed Ambulances and

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trained manpower and this helps hospitals concentrate on its core competency of medical

care activities.

24/7 Services – Emergency doesn’t come with a warning. To keep a step ahead of them,

Companies like ZHL keeps 24/7 live track of the Ambulance and provide the hospitals

with a comprehensive report on every aspect of Ambulances, right down to its speed, its

travelling on any specified day or time. This also ensures 365 days uptime for the

Ambulance for the hospitals.

Improved technology & design – Nowadays Amublances are designed, modelled and

operated on international lines and are equipped with the most modern medical equipments

like Defibrillator Ventilator, Pulse Oxy-meter, Cardiac Monitor, ECG, Suction Machine,

Resuscitation kit, Syrije pump etc In addition patient transfer facilities like collapsible

stretcher, scoop stretcher, spine board, canvas stretcher, stair chair cum wheel chair etc.

Trained Manpower: It is very crucial that Ambulance crew is trained and able to provide

adequate care during the emergency or transfer. ZHL ensures trained Emergency Medical

Technicians and Drivers who are provided the training by LIHS, the International Training

Centre of the American Heart Association (AHA), enabling them to stabilize patients and

transfer with Medical Support.

ZHL in Media

1298 Mumbai featured by TV 9 Maharashtra

On 4th Sep a tragic incident happened metro bridge being collapsed leaving everything

helter skelter and disrupted in Andheri - Kurla road in Mumbai.

 1298 Ambulance was at the spot immediately helping people and providing much needed

first aid.

ZHL in Economic Times

Economic Times the leading business newspaper featured ZHL in all editions on 2nd

August, 2012. The article talked about the journey and success of ZHL and is among the

top social enterprises receiving appreciation from renowned Entrepreneurs.

108 Kerala touches 50,000

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Another feather got added in 108 Kerala's cap when they touched 50,000  lives. This

moment was marked with huge appreciation by locals, government officials, media

fraternity making this journey truly cherish able.

School Rally @ 108 Punjab

Guru Govind Singh Senior Secondary School in association with 108 Punjab organized a

rally on 29 August. This rally was about spreading the word on the  safety tips while

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driving and ill effects of Drink and Drive. Over 200 students participated in this 2km long

rally. This activity was covered by daily journals.

OBSERVATION AND FINDINGS

Social entrepreneurship refers to the creation of viable socio-economic structures,

relations, institutions, organizations and practices that yield and sustain social benefits.

Extant entrepreneurship research offers little guidance to understand the motivations,

mechanisms and outcomes that are central to social entrepreneurship. In this project, I

attempt to advance understanding in this area by developing a framework that is grounded

in the theory of prosocial behavior and validated by field observations of social

entrepreneurs. This framework of social entrepreneurship developed from grounded theory

methods such as semi structured interviews and document analysis with social

entrepreneurs from two pioneering social organizations incorporates both behavioral as

well as situational factors.

Towards this end, an integrated approach is necessary for making the movement of

women entrepreneurship a success. For this purpose, both the Government and non-

Government agencies have to play a vital role.

With the global healthcare business growing at exponential rates, hospitals in India

are feeling the pressure to prioritize on their core competency. ZHL founders came out

with the very unique idea and came up with an social enterprise, health sector is always

very crucial and the services related to it are the same. India faces a lot of problem in

concern with health services; to overcome a bit of it ZHL initiated with the ambulance

service which I think is the basic and foremost steep in health service.

ZHL had been set up with a vision to assist in saving human lives by providing a

leading network of fully equipped Advanced and Basic Life Support Ambulances across

the developing world.. Ziqitza provides hospitals with custom designed Ambulances and

trained manpower and this helps hospitals concentrate on its core competency of medical

care activities.

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With the study of this company it is observed that now the young entrepreneurs are

moving towards the social aspect rather than only concentrating on earning more profit.

ZHL is an example of a perfect social enterprise which helps the society and even the

hospitals and indirectly the government of country by participating in improving health

conditions of citizens.

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STRENGTHS

No big competitor

Serving Society

Efficient Team

Strong support from mentors