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Ramakrishna NK
Social Entrepreneur | Building Rang De to make India a developed nation in my lifetime | Vipassana Meditator | Ashoka Fellow
Ramakrishna NK is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Rang De, a social investing platform that focuses on providing affordable credit and fostering social change.12 His LinkedIn profile username is "ramnk".1
Professional Background
Ramakrishna NK has a diverse range of experiences and roles:
Current Positions::
- Co-founder and MD at Rang De1
- Author2
- Member-HR at the Capacity Building Commission, Government of Bharat2
- Chairperson of the Social Stock Exchange Advisory Committee at SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India)2
Education:: He attended Velagapudi Ramakrishna Siddhartha Engineering College.1
Work with Rang De
Rang De, under Ramakrishna's leadership, focuses on:
- Providing affordable credit to individuals4
- Promoting social investing and sustainable change4
- Supporting farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs5
The organization believes in the power of small investments to create significant impact. For instance, they emphasize that an investment of ₹1000 can help seed a farmer's field, fuel an artisan's craft, or ignite an entrepreneur's dream.5
Social Media Presence
Ramakrishna NK is active on LinkedIn, where he frequently shares updates about Rang De's activities and impact. His posts often include hashtags such as #rangde, #affordablecreditrevolution, and #p2psocialinvesting, reflecting the focus areas of his work.234
As of October 2024, Ramakrishna NK has a substantial following on LinkedIn with 42,000 followers and over 500 connections1, indicating his influence in the social entrepreneurship and finance sectors.
Highlights
Meet IAS officer Sushant Gaurav, who became a Harvard Business School case study.
When Sushant took charge as district collector of Gumla district in Jharkhand, most of its locals lived in extreme poverty and struggled to make ends meet.
90% of Gumla's marginal farmers relied on rain for irrigation and cultivated rice - the most water-intensive crop.
Scientific farming practices were unknown to them.
2023 was the year when the UN declared the 'International Year of Millets', with India at its forefront.
Sushant was well-informed about this initiative and used his knowledge to popularize Ragi - a type of millet suitable for drylands.
He managed to arrange high-quality seeds through the National Seed Corporation.
When the net yield increased by 300%, more farmers decided to cultivate Ragi.
In just 18 months, Ragi cultivation spread from 1300 acres to 30,000 acres earning Gumla the reputation of 'Ragi Capital of India'.
Sushant's efforts did not stop there.
With the help of Self-help groups, he started a women-led movement to establish Ragi processing units.
These units produced 1 tonne of Ragi daily, including Ragi laddus and snacks.
Sushant's progress card in Gumla looks like this -
- Combated malnutrition by distributing Ragi laddus to children and lactating mothers.
- Introduced health check-up units in Anganwadis.
- Implemented IT facilities in schools.
- Opened free gyms.
- Installed solar lift systems, drip irrigation, and renovated ponds.
- Started pilot projects for organic farming.
Now you know why Harvard Business School is studying his work.
By transforming a poverty-stricken village into a commercial hub, this IAS officer earned the "Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration" in 2023, the first of its kind for an eastern state.
Many have knowledge about efficient farming practices, but what sets Sushant apart is his willingness to apply it for the greater good.
Have you come across such stories of knowledge put into practice? Share in the comments.
Dhumalwadi is a village in India that grows only fruits.
Located in Satara district in Maharashtra, Dhumalwadi earned the title 'Village of Fruits'.
Not because of its abundance but through sheer innovation.
In 1985, the village primarily grew a single variety of fruit—pomegranate.
5 years later, a bacterial disease devastated the fruit trees, leaving farmers in distress.
Instead of giving up, Dhumalwadi farmers decided to experiment with various fruit plantations and adopt scientific methods.
Result?
Today, 90% of its farmers use advanced horticulture techniques.
This village now cultivates more than 19 varieties of fruits, both sweet and sour, with an annual turnover of ₹25 crores.
Problem of water scarcity was also solved by villagers using microirrigation systems.
The fruit farmers of Dhumalwadi don't go to local markets, traders come in search of them.
Unlike neighbouring villages,Dhumalwadi's youth stay in the village and find agriculture profitable.
This sweet success didn't come easily to Dhumalwadi. It was earned.
Each season, the villagers explore new ventures, from processing units to fruit exports, creating a unique identity of their own.
In 2023, the Government of Maharashtra recognised Dhumalwadi as the 'Village of Fruits,' honouring their hard work, resilience, and adaptability.
Dhumalwadi is a classic example of how a community can transform every adversity into opportunity.
Have you come across stories of hope and action within communities? Share in the comments.
P.S :We recently crossed 10,200 social investors on Rang De and are on our way to bigger milestones.
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