Milind Kamble

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Wikipedia

Dr. Milind Pralhad Kamble
Born (1967-02-17) February 17, 1967 (age 58)
Chobli, Latur district, Maharashtra, India
CitizenshipIndia
EducationDiploma in Civil Engineering, Nanded Government Polytechnic (1987)
Occupation(s)Civil engineer, Entrepreneur
Known forFounder of Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI); Chairperson of the Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Management Jammu
AwardsPadma Shri (2013)
Bhim Ratna Award (2010)

Milind Pralhad Kamble (born 17 February 1967) is an Indian civil engineer, entrepreneur and policy contributor best known for founding the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) in 2005.[1] He serves as Chairperson of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Management Jammu, becoming the first person from a Scheduled Caste community to hold the position.[2] Kamble has been associated with initiatives relating to entrepreneurship, affirmative action, and representation of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs in national economic frameworks.

His contributions to trade and industry were recognised with the Padma Shri in 2013.[3]

Early life and education

Kamble was born on 17 February 1967 in Chobli, Latur district, Maharashtra.[4] He completed his schooling in Maharashtra and earned a diploma in civil engineering from the Nanded Government Polytechnic in 1987.[5] He subsequently worked in private construction firms for five years before establishing his own civil engineering business.

In 1992, he founded Milind Kamble Civil Engineers and Contractors, which executed civil projects including segments of the Konkan Railway, the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, the Baramati Water Supply Scheme and the Pune–Lavasa Road.[6] The firm was later renamed Fortune Construction and expanded into an ISO-certified enterprise.[7]

Career

Public service and policy roles

In May 2019, Kamble was appointed Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management Jammu.[8] He previously served as a board member at IIM Kashipur. During his tenure at IIM Jammu, the institute expanded academic programmes, upgraded infrastructure and recorded student placement milestones, eventually achieving two international accreditations and securing a ranking in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).[9]

Kamble was a member of the National Curriculum Framework Steering Committee (2021) constituted by the Ministry of Education under the National Education Policy 2020.[10]

He also co-chairs the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Task Force on Affirmative Action, contributing to industry-led initiatives for SC/ST entrepreneurship, education and employment.[11]

Since 2016, Kamble has chaired the advisory committee of the Ministry of MSME’s National SC/ST Hub.[12] The scheme has supported over 145,000 SC/ST entrepreneurs and facilitated business execution valued at over ₹3,564 crore.[13]

During India’s G20 Presidency (2023), Kamble served on the B20 India Steering Committee and the International Advocacy Caucus, contributing to discussions on inclusive growth and supplier diversity.[14]

Entrepreneurial career

Kamble is Chairman of Superb MAA Housing & Infrastructure LLP and Superb MAA Developers LLP. The group has undertaken mass housing projects consisting of more than 6,800 residential units, with nearly 6 million sq. ft of built-up area and an additional 1 million sq. ft of commercial development, collectively valued at approximately USD 1.5 billion.[15] Two large housing projects are under construction in Panvel, Mumbai. He also serves as an Independent Director at Belrise Industries Ltd.[16]

Kamble founded DICCI in 2005 to promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Caste communities.[17] Under his leadership, the organisation expanded to more than 1,000 members across sectors including manufacturing, services and offshore engineering. It currently has 29 state chapters and seven international chapters.[18]

DICCI has implemented trade fairs, capacity-building programmes and a venture capital initiative. In 2012, SEBI approved the DICCI SME Fund, designed to provide equity support and managerial inputs to emerging Dalit entrepreneurs.[19]

Socio-economic initiatives

Kamble has advocated entrepreneurship as a means for social and economic mobility for historically marginalised communities.[20] Through DICCI, he promoted frameworks encouraging SC/ST entrepreneurs to become employers and contributors to economic development.

He has collaborated with the CII–DICCI Model Career Centres, which aim to provide employability training and placement support to SC/ST youth.[21]

Awards and recognitions

YearAward / HonourDetails
2010Bhim Ratna AwardAwarded by the Government of Maharashtra[22]
2011Marathwada Udyog Bhushan Award; Maharashtra Times Nayak AwardRecognised for contributions in entrepreneurship[23]
2013Padma Shri (Trade & Industry)Awarded by the President of India[24]
2015Samaj BhushanAwarded by the Government of Maharashtra[25]

Personal life

Kamble resides in Pune.[26] In 2001, he created one of the earliest comprehensive websites on Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, containing archival materials including texts and photographs.[27] He is married and has children. Kamble frequently speaks at educational institutions on entrepreneurship and economic participation.[28]

References

  1. ↑ Business Standard, "Breaking through" (2013)
  2. ↑ Times of India, "In Milind Kamble, IIM Jammu gets first SC chairperson of board of governors" (7 May 2019)
  3. ↑ Times of India, "Jaymala Shiledar, Suresh Talwalkar, Milind Kamble among Padma Shri awardees" (26 Jan 2013)
  4. ↑ Edubilla biography
  5. ↑ Edubilla biography
  6. ↑ Entrepreneur India interview
  7. ↑ Entrepreneur India interview
  8. ↑ Times of India, 7 May 2019
  9. ↑ DICCI Annual Report 2023–24
  10. ↑ Times of India, "Education Ministry forms national steering committee" (2021)
  11. ↑ Business Standard, "Affirmative action plan progress slow"
  12. ↑ MSME Mart – National SC/ST Hub advisory committee
  13. ↑ MSME Mart
  14. ↑ B20 India Communiqué (2023)
  15. ↑ DICCI Annual Report 2023–24
  16. ↑ Entrepreneur India interview
  17. ↑ Business Standard, "Breaking through" (2013)
  18. ↑ DICCI Annual Report 2023–24
  19. ↑ Economic Times, "Dalit entrepreneurs, Kamble wins Padma"
  20. ↑ Social Innovation Seminar compendium, Pune International Centre (2013)
  21. ↑ Times of India, "CII–DICCI Model Career Centre launched"
  22. ↑ Edubilla biography
  23. ↑ Entrepreneur India interview
  24. ↑ Times of India, 26 Jan 2013
  25. ↑ Edubilla biography
  26. ↑ Entrepreneur India interview
  27. ↑ Social Innovation Seminar compendium, PIC (2013)
  28. ↑ Entrepreneur India interview