Renowned as a first-generation social entrepreneur dedicated to Bharat Vikas, Hanmantrao Gaikwad serves as the chairman and managing director of BVG India Ltd. His journey commenced in October 1972 in Rahimatpur Village, Satara District, Maharashtra. Introduced to Swami Vivekanand’s wisdom and the tales of the Great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the age of fourteen, he was inspired to envision significant contributions to his nation.
Despite facing the tragic loss of his father at the age of eighteen, Hanmantrao persevered and completed his engineering degree through the earn-and-learn scheme. Residing in a 100-square-foot room with his schoolteacher mother and cycling 40-50 kilometers daily to pursue his aspirations, Hanmantrao stands as a testament to the belief that no dream is too big or small, as long as one gives their best effort.
At nineteen, he laid the foundation for his ambitions by establishing the social organization Bharat Vikas Pratishthan. Joining Tata Motors Pune as a graduate trainee engineer in 1994, his exceptional work in cost-saving attracted management’s attention. Seeking to create job opportunities for the unemployed in his village, Hanmantrao, in 1997, founded BVG as a housekeeping unit with just eight individuals. Today, BVG stands as India’s largest socio-commercial organization, generating employment for over 60,000 people and indirectly providing livelihoods for more than 20,000.
Hanmantrao pioneered the mechanized housekeeping/facility management industry in India, evident in the numerous accomplishments of BVG India. His ambitious goal is to positively impact 10 crore lives by the year 2030.