From housekeeping in PM residence, Rashtrapati Bhavan to mission 10 lakh jobs - Hindustan Times
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From housekeeping in PM residence, Rashtrapati Bhavan to mission 10 lakh jobs

Pune | ByAnjali Shetty
May 24, 2017 06:07 PM IST

Hailing from Satara village, Hanmant Gaikwad has come a long way to run a Rs 1,000-crore housekeeping enterprise. His firm BVG that maintains the PM’s residence, PMO, Parliament and other establishments, now plans to create 10 lakh jobs

From living in a small village in Maharashtra to being featured in the English textbook of class 10 (SSC), the life of Hanmant R Gaikwad, 44, is a success story. On Tuesday, his firm BVG (Bharat Vikas Group), which looks after the cleanliness of Parliament, Delhi High Court, Prime Minister’s residence and Rashtrapati Bhavan, celebrated its 25th anniversary in Pune. While providing employment to 70,000 families, Gaikwad has resolved to create 10 lakh jobs.

Hanmant Gaikwad is a devout follower of Swami Vivekanand’s principles and started non-profit trust Bharat Vikas Pratishthan during his college days
Hanmant Gaikwad is a devout follower of Swami Vivekanand’s principles and started non-profit trust Bharat Vikas Pratishthan during his college days

A perseverant and hard working individual, Hanmant came to terms with the realities of life at a very young age. While most of his friends and acquaintances were enjoying their school and college life, Hanmant was making sure his mother wasn’t burdened with the financial situation at home, by undertaking odd and menial jobs. Born in Rahmatpur in Satara district, his family moved to Pune when he was six. He lost his father a few years later.

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His mother fondly remembers a young Hanmant to be studious and eager to help her out, “He knew that I was going through a lot of hardship and my salary as a municipal school teacher wasn’t enough to run the house. He took up painting contracts and other small jobs to make ends meet. He is a self-made man.”

(From Left) Ulhas Pawar, Strategic Foresight Group President Sundeep Waslekar, Hanmant Gaikwad, Sharad Pawar, Nitin Gadkari, Raghunath Mashelkar, BVG Joint MD Umesh Mane, BVG Goodwill Ambasador Arunima Sinha and Kanchan Gadkari at the event to celebrate 25 years of Bharat Vikas Pratishthan
(From Left) Ulhas Pawar, Strategic Foresight Group President Sundeep Waslekar, Hanmant Gaikwad, Sharad Pawar, Nitin Gadkari, Raghunath Mashelkar, BVG Joint MD Umesh Mane, BVG Goodwill Ambasador Arunima Sinha and Kanchan Gadkari at the event to celebrate 25 years of Bharat Vikas Pratishthan

A devout follower of Swami Vivekanand’s principles, he started a non-profit trust Bharat Vikas Pratishthan during his college (Vishwakarma Institute of Technology) days. In 1997, while working with Tata Motors, he decided to provide a job opportunity platform for the youth from his village. With due support from his employers, Bharat Vikas Group was born. 

On Tuesday, the organisation completed 20 years and the foundation marks 25 years. “I started with a small housekeeping firm with one client and eight employees. Today, we are a 60,000-plus staff group and my mission is to touch the one lakh mark soon. We are trying to bring change in the lives of 50 lakh people, besides giving ESI and PF cover to domestic helps and affordable houses. We are also looking at opportunities in Cambodia and Zimbabwe,” said Hanmant, during an event to celebrate 25 years of the foundation. 

Union minister Nitin Gadkari, NCP president Sharad Pawar, Strategic Foresight Group chairman Sundeep Waslekar and veteran scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar were among those present at the event. 

Making an interesting observation, Dr Mashelkar said, “If you trace back my journey, it is very similar to that of Gaikwad. Our history has similarities, we both lost our fathers at a young age, we stayed in small a 10x10 ft home. Tata helped us in our initial days.” 

He also pointed out, “During one of my recent conferences in Kaula Lumpur, the children from Varangwadi interacted with scientists from all over the world. This was possible only because of Gaikwad’s efforts. The greatest inequality to handle is the inequality born at birth. This is what Gaikwad is trying to erase and we all should come together to help him.” 

Dr Malshekar also said how Gaikwad has made it to the English textbook of class 10 (SSC Board). “I appear on page 52 and BVG’s story is on page 174,” he said.

Apps launched at the occasion
  • 108- the app designed for emergency situation
  • Domestiqa, the app for domestic services
  • Booklet app, the audio book app
  • BVG Krishi Tantradnyan and the Gram Vikas App
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