Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Get unlimited access to 9,500+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just

$149.99
 
$74.99/Year

Try GOLD - Free

Dr. Ramakrishna Achar an Architect of Innovation, Sustainability, and Social Transformation

Financial Express Mumbai

|

September 17, 2025

In the serene coastal town of Moodabidri, Karnataka, a beacon of entrepreneurial brilliance shines through the story of Dr. Ramakrishna Achar. As India and the world look to 2025 and beyond, he stands tall as a catalyst for progress, proving that true success lies in uplifting humanity while honouring the earth.

From a modest beginning in 1987 with a mere Rs. 25,000, Dr Achar has sculpted a Rs. 250 crore business empire that spans continents, employs 3,000 individuals, and redefines the paradigms of industry, sustainability, and social good. As the visionary founder of Sri Kalikamba Fabricators (SKF) and SKF Elixer India Private Limited, his journey from basic education to being a PhD-honoured innovator is a testament to resilience, ingenuity, and an unrelenting commitment to quality.

In 2025, as India strides toward its $5 trillion economic goal, Dr Achar's enterprises align seamlessly with national imperatives like Make in India, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Swachh Bharat, blending cutting-edge technology with grassroots impact. His multifaceted contributions spanning grain processing, water purification, sustainable agriculture, and youth empowerment have transformed industries while inspiring a global audience of entrepreneurs, policymakers, and change-makers.

The humble beginning

Dr Ramakrishna Achar's story begins in the humble village of Gangolli of Kundapurtaluk, Udupi district, where financial constraints forced him to abandon formal education early.

Undeterred, he immersed himself in the world of fabrication, a passion sparked in childhood and nurtured through teenage apprenticeships in local workshops. His hunger for knowledge led him to the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru, where he honed his technical prowess as a trainee. In 1987, he founded Sri Kalikamba Fabricators (SKF) in a rented shed in Moodabidri, a small town 35 kilometres from Mangaluru. What began as a fledgling venture has blossomed into a powerhouse, boasting an annual turnover of Rs. 250 crore and a workforce of 3,000, creating a ripple effect of economic prosperity in the region.

MORE STORIES FROM Financial Express Mumbai

Financial Express Mumbai

Paper chase: $70 bn in next 12 months

THE MASSIVE SUPPLY of paper into the Indian stock market is expected to continue with up to $70 billion estimated to come in over the next 12 months, according to Jefferies India.

time to read

1 mins

September 20, 2025

Financial Express Mumbai

Seven-figure payday for Quant interns

High-speed trading firms wooing talent with monthly salaries of up to ₹12.5 lakh

time to read

3 mins

September 20, 2025

Financial Express Mumbai

Judiciary’s largest project faces implementation hurdles

THE GOVERNMENT'S AMBITIOUS Phase III of its eCourts project has made rapid strides but the four-year central sector scheme, authorised in September 2023, is facing critical bottlenecks as well, leading to delays in the delivery of justice and increasing the pendency of lawsuits across courts.

time to read

3 mins

September 20, 2025

Financial Express Mumbai

Govt open to talks on AGR relief for Vi

SC agrees to hear telco's fresh plea

time to read

2 mins

September 20, 2025

Financial Express Mumbai

Advance tax growth slows to 3.9% in Q2

THE ADVANCE DIRECT tax collections for the second quarter of 2025-26 from companies, LLPs and individuals rose by a modest 3.9% on year compared with a 19% growth seen in the year-ago quarter, owing mainly to the personal income tax relief announced in the Budget.

time to read

2 mins

September 20, 2025

Financial Express Mumbai

Advance tax growth slows in Q2

INTHE FY26 BUDGET, the Centre sharply raised the income taxexemption limit to €12 lakh from %7 lakh under the newtax regime and lowered tax incidence under various income slabs, which the government said would leave around ¢1 lakh crore in cash in the hands of taxpayers.

time to read

1 min

September 20, 2025

Financial Express Mumbai

It’s raining salaries for quant interns

FROM THE FRONT PACE

time to read

2 mins

September 20, 2025

Financial Express Mumbai

Adani not fully off the Sebi hook yet

REGULATOR PROBING OVERA DOZEN MORE CHARGES

time to read

1 mins

September 20, 2025

Financial Express Mumbai

India expects Saudi to keep in mind mutual interests and sensitivities

INDIA ON FRIDAY said it expects Saudi Arabia to keep in mind “mutual interests and sensitivities” in the wake of Riyadh sealing a strategic defence pact with Pakistan.

time to read

1 min

September 20, 2025

Financial Express Mumbai

Yes Bank eyes wealth foray after striking SMBC deal

PRIVATE SECTOR LENDER Yes Bank is exploring entering the fiercely competitive $1trillion wealth management space following its strategic partnership with Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.

time to read

1 min

September 20, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size