After getting Master’s Degree in education from the University of Nebraska, Mahabir Pun, returned to his native village Nangi in Nepal with a courageous and ambitious goal to set up a school that would serve as a model for local education and economic development. He is well known for his extensive work in applying wireless technologies to develop Internet connectivity in the remote areas of Nepal. The Ashoka Foundation, the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation, University of Nebraska, and Global Ideas Bank, among others, have recognized his work. In an interview with the New Business Age, he shared his idea of social businesses. Excerpts:

 

What inspired you to get into social enterprises?

After I came back from the US, I decided to stay in the village to help people start a community high school. However, we had financial problem from the very beginning to operate the school smoothly. Rather than asking for donations I thought of finding other sources of income for the school. That was how I got involved in several income generating projects. I also wanted to create job opportunities for the village people. Therefore it was the need of money to run the school and need of jobs forthe villagers that got me into social enterprises.

 

Where do you find Nepal’s position in terms of social entrepreneurship compared to rest of the South Asian countries?

I don't have exact data and information to tell where Nepal exactly stands compared to other South Asian countries in term of social entrepreneurship. However, I can tell that we are still far behind than other South Asian countries in creating conducive environment to help our youngsters become social entrepreneurs. Due to this many Nepali go oversees everyday to work mostly as unskilled labours. However, many Nepalis are slowly beginning to understand that they can themselves create good opportunities and earn more money here in Nepal itself, if they work as hard as they do in foreign countries. Besides, some oversees returnees have started small enterprises by using the skills that they learned abroad. 

 

How do you take social impact and profitability in business?

Every business needs to make profit to survive and grow. Better business means better and more job opportunities for the people. I believe that businesses must think about their social responsibility as well. Businesses should consider the money they spend for social cause as part of business promotion. 

 

 

You have been running many social businesses. What sustainability approaches have you adopted in them? 

Most of the social businesses that I have started are small scale and most of them are sustaining well. In my experience social businesses can be sustainable if the local community members and individuals are provided leadership positions. Even if they don’t have experience in running a social enterprise, I let them to take decisions themselves and encourage them to not be worried about making mistakes. I have found that it is the best approach to make a business sustainable. 

 

Which model of social entrepreneurship do you favour: non-profit or profit for betterment of the bottom billion?

I prefer the for profit model for the betterment of poor people.

 

What would be your advice for aspirant social entrepreneurs who want to contribute to the society via social entrepreneurship?

My advice for aspirant social entrepreneurs is not to give up easily, if they want to become successful. I also would like to encourage them to learn from the mistakes they make.