Giving Back To The Society : Shrey Goyal
“The idea is to make a change that lives on, long after you don’t.”
Sustainable Development has been an important issue and crucial to tackle the environmental crisis our world is sinking in. Many people are involved in initiatives to realise the same. Shrey Goyal is one such person. He graduated from our very own IIT Kgp with a Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering in 2011 and has already seen his name featured in the Forbes India’s 30 Under 30 list. He has connected sustainable development and helping the rural poor, with finance and business. He spoke about his story in a seminar hosted by the Entrepreneurship Cell on Sunday. In case you missed it, here’s what he talked about.
During his first year here, he got selected in an Engineers for Sustainability programme, which took only five students across all IITs. It was during his three month tenure in this program that he met other students from across the globe who were passionately concerned towards the goal of social and environmental issues. In subsequent years, he also participated in many business quizzes and worked as a part of several startups and learned about business planning and how to use technology efficiently to work for a social cause and also pay the bills. After graduation, he went on to work in various social help groups like Oorja and social initiatives like Bhungroo (a woman empowered water management system to extract groundwater), to understand the problems of the rural poor at the grass-root level. He worked towards providing them facilities that are easy to afford and yet extremely beneficial.
His company, ‘Sustainable Initiatives Group’, provides consultancy to organisations which try to make a business out of sustainable development. Some major steps taken by him have been to promote smokeless gas stoves, production of paper out of elephant and rhino excreta, and to promote self-help groups amongst women in Gujarat, and making new technology that would help the government. The products that he designs now have a major market in A-scale countries like Australia, Britain, and United States. At the same time, he happens to be an expert in microfinance and is the youngest Indian to ever work at the World Bank. His projects have been displayed at countless national and international forums.
A good idea, a business plan, and determination will always work if we stay true to the cause. His work inspires many to do the same, and has been successful in changing lives of thousands of people for the better.
