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Social entrepreneurship through ecofeminism: a case of Piplantri, India

Udai Lal Paliwal, Nityesh Bhatt

Publication date: 15 January 2025

Abstract

Learning outcomes

This case highlights the social entrepreneurship exhibited by Dr Shyam Sunder Paliwal, former Sarpanch (head of village council) of Piplantri Gram Panchayat of Rajsamand district of Rajasthan State in India. After completion of the case study, the students will be able to identify the factors that enabled social change, discuss the role of women in the social change at Piplantri and how their participation can be leveraged in similar contexts, evaluate the measures for addressing the ethical dilemma faced and develop strategy for sustaining and augmenting social change.

Case overview/synopsis

Dr Paliwal, former Sarpanch (head of village council) of Piplantri Gram Panchayat of Rajsamand, India was having a deeper look at one of the highest civilian award “Padma Shri”, bestowed upon him by the Government of India. Fully immersed in his 18 years of public service, he started recollecting his journey in the chilly winter of November 2023, which began in the year 2005 as the Sarpanch of Piplantri Gram Panchayat. After toiling hard to improve the basic infrastructure of his Gram Panchayat, his focus quickly shifted to plantation of trees, improving the water level and addressing other social issues such as social entrepreneurship through ecofeminism. He had a larger goal of uplifting the Gram Panchayat community in the barren, parched and encroached land. He vividly remembered the public participation in this drive, especially the women. Through effective utilisation of various government schemes, by 2022, the panchayat could witness more than four and a half lac (0.45 million) trees planted and a large number of functional water repositories enabling socio-economic development of the villagers. Numerous accolades displayed in his office; were the testimony of his work and challenges faced on many fronts. He started reflecting about various factors including ecofeminism that led to the success of his social entrepreneurship activities. He was also concerned about the sustainability of his efforts and scalability of activities while ensuring that developmental activities did not harm the natural environment.

Complexity academic level

This case on social change journey at Piplantri village can be taught in MBA programmes in social entrepreneurship course.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS3: Entrepreneurship.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Disclaimer. This case is written solely for educational purposes and is not intended to represent successful or unsuccessful managerial decision-making. The authors may have disguised names; financial and other recognisable information to protect confidentiality.

Citation

Paliwal, U.L. and Bhatt, N. (2025), "Social entrepreneurship through ecofeminism: a case of Piplantri, India", , Vol. 15 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/EEMCS-12-2023-0497

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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