Mary Gold – Celebrating Rotarians succeeding - Rtn Pradip Khedkar Back
From Rural Roots to Rotary: A Journey of Social Entrepreneurship

Born into a small rural family, I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where education was valued as a pathway to progress. Being a consistent topper in school, I received strong encouragement from my family to pursue higher studies. My close association with the farming community from childhood allowed me to observe their challenges firsthand—uncertain incomes, dependency on nature, and limited access to modern solutions. These early experiences left a lasting imprint on my mind and heart.
I pursued my graduation from a Government Agriculture College with a clear intent to contribute meaningfully to the agricultural sector. After graduation, while preparing for the Civil Services and clearing the Police Sub-Inspector examination, I joined Reliance Industries Ltd. as Manager – Administration and Security. During my eight-year tenure, I had the privilege of serving as a Personal Security Officer to the Chairman of Reliance Industries and was also selected for specialised training in Israel. This exposure sharpened my professional discipline and broadened my global perspective.
Despite a rewarding corporate career, I felt a growing inner urge to do something more purposeful—an endeavour that combined growth with social responsibility. Driven by this conviction, I resigned from my corporate role and ventured into entrepreneurship. I established my own Security and Housekeeping Services in Pune and simultaneously completed my LLB, strengthening my commitment to ethical and lawful business practices.
In 2016, leveraging my background in agriculture, I took another bold step by entering the silage manufacturing business. At that time, silage was a relatively unknown concept among farmers, and organised production was almost absent. The journey began with challenges—lack of awareness, market resistance, and limited infrastructure. However, through innovation, ethical practices, and constant engagement with farmers and customers, we gradually built trust and credibility.
Today, our enterprise supplies high-quality corn silage to dairy and goat farms across several major districts. We are proud to have been associated as a vendor with Reliance Industries for silage supply. More importantly, our business stands as a model of social entrepreneurship—ensuring fixed and optimum prices for farmers’ produce while delivering timely and quality nutrition to livestock owners. During the devastating floods in Kolhapur, we supplied 300 tonnes of silage through an NGO to support affected farmers, reaffirming our belief that businesses must serve society, especially in times of crisis.
Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I realised that while individuals have limitations, platforms built on shared values can create sustained impact. This belief naturally drew me towards Rotary.
I joined Rotary in the year 2021. This is another family for me. A big platform to serve the society with purpose. 
2023 was the international millet year declared by the United Nations. And I took the presidency of Rotary Club of Pune Camp for the same year so the idea for a rotary millet Jatra was generated. Millet Jatra connects rural and tribal with urban, its unique project supporting farmers, buyers, educational institutes and research workers. This project touches on 7 focus areas of Rotary and 20 sustainable development goals of the United Nations and every year it becomes a sustainable project.

We created platform Rotary Millet Katta through which selling and buying of millet activity going on,we have connected many dots of millet mission,we are in the process of making self sustained millet village
RID 3131 is also interested to take this mission ahead with the help of Economic and community development avenue. Rotary international also has taken note of this activity. 2023-2024, we constructed 2000 temporary check dams in the entire Pune and Raigad district which supports farmers and dairy animals during summer. This activity is supported by the Pune district Agriculture department.

With the support of different clubs of RID 3131 we are developing rural areas. It’s not only infrastructure development but human transformation in the long run to make everyone proud.

I am always blessed to be part of such a noble organization which not only gives me purpose to live but purpose to serve above self.

Rtn Pradip Khedkar
Rotary Club of Pune Camp