Kalpana Saroj

Kamani Tubes Ltd

Chairman & Managing Director, India

Entrepreneur, industrialist, philanthropist, Dr. Kalpana Saroj is widely acknowledged for her success in creating and growing diverse enterprises across sectors: industrial components and machine tools, aviation, infrastructure | realty, film production, generic sugar and micro | developmental banking. A committed nationalist, Dr. Saroj is equally well regarded for several initiatives beyond business. Prominent among these are her contribution to the Government of India’s Make in India programme through exponential capacity creation in critical components for industry, cultural renaissance, preservation of iconic buildings, socio-economic and socio-cultural campaigns with measurable impact across populations. A consistent aspect of her developmental work is commitment to fostering skills and creating opportunity for the most disadvantaged sections of society. From healthcare to education to micro finance, Kalpana Saroj Foundation pursues the agenda of positive change, enriching India’s human capital. In the spiritual, cultural and heritage sphere Dr. Saroj has contributed immensely to Buddhism and lives the legacy of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. Active at the ground level without any quest for visibility, these like many other aspects of her life, remain a lesser known facet. From birth in a humble family of rural Maharashtra, being compelled to forego formal education, to becoming a child bride at age 12, Dr. Saroj’s life is emblematic of deep resolve to overcome adversity of situation and circumstance through initiative, ingenuity and incessant hard work. In a long and chequered career she has been guided by exceptional integrity and a quality of compassion. These values as innate nature and practiced as habit, distinguish and define her salience. Significant contribution of the person being nominated Societal contribution: provided livelihood to many families through her enterprises, healthcare facilities to hundreds of people, education and skill development for people, assistance in setting up small scale businesses to youth. Cultural contribution:from constructively and creatively addressing Dalit issues as well as those of all underprivileged groups without discrimination, to preserving and promoting India’s Buddhist heritage, to working at various levels in fostering Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s legacy (there are several proof points – personally nursing and attending to his widow the late Smt. Savita Ambedkar, his teachings, his initiatives etc) Dr. Saroj continues to be a votary and ambassador of a very vital aspect of India’s character. In this she is well known and respectedwidely. Impact/outcome of the work by the person being nominated Through her enterprises, Dr. Kalpana Saroj has revived a defunct legacy business (Kamani Tubes), transforming it into profit making enterprise and expanding its product portfolio to emerge as a comprehensive manufacturer in its category while partnering the Government in its Make in India campaign. With the passage of time and her strong reputation for enterprise, compassion, and high integrity, workers from a defunct company (Kamani Tubes) approached her to help them get their dues. It was with her resolve that workers not only received their full arrears, the company was revived after settling more than 140 pending litigations, combative worker unions, and a liability of Rs 116 crore. Kamani Tubes Ltd. today, is a proud corporate citizen with exponentially enhanced production. Her work was recoganised by Govt of India and felicitated her with Highest Civilian Award Padmashri Award in year 2013 in field of Trade and Industry. And Nari Shakti Award in year 2018.