Sri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil | CoopPeople | CoopWiki

Life Period: April 10, 1932 – December 30, 2016
Region: Belagavi and Bagalkot districts (Krishna river basin)
Role: Patron and Advisor to the Ghataprabha Co-operative Sugar Factory and North Karnataka agro-unions.
Core Contributions: Dedicated decades to building community-owned sugar processing assets across North Karnataka. He structured a unique equity model where local sugarcane growers pooled small savings to build massive processing mills. This system shattered the monopoly of private sugar barons, introduced transparent automated weighing scales, and directed mill profits back into constructing local schools, polytechnic colleges, and minor irrigation canals.
Recognitions: Awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 2010 for his path-breaking work in rural development.