Dr.B.V.Raju hails from a humble agricultural family of Kumudavalli Village near Bhimavaram, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. He graduated in Chemical Engineering from Benaras Hindu University. He did his Management studies from Harvard University, U.S.A.
Dr Raju got a "concrete foundation" when he began his career as a low-grade worker in a cement industry and steadily rose to reach the top echelons in the company, as he served as the chairman and managing director of Cement Corporation of India, a Government of India undertaking.
Dr. Raju did enormous service for the industrialisation of the country by setting up major cement factories at Mandar, Akhaltara and Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh, at Adilabad, Tandur, and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh, at Rajban in Himachal Pradesh, at Bukajam in Assam and at Kurukunta in Karnataka.
He also extended his services as an advisor to state governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal etc., with reference to setting up of new industries. He is considered to be a doyen of the cement industry and was an industrial adviser to several countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Bhutan etc.
After retirement, he promoted several industries in the Andhra Pradesh state like Raasi Cement, Vishnu Cement, Raasi Refractories, Raasi Ceramics, Telangana Paper Mills, Raasi Software, Raasi Finance & Investment Limited etc.
In due recognition for his contributions for the industrial development in the country, Dr. B.V. Raju was conferred with "Padmshri" award in 1997 and "Padmabhushan" in 2001 by the Government of India., and was awarded "honourary doctorate" by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad. Both, the B.V.Raju Foundation and Sri Vishnu Educational Society are the culmination of his vision, inspiration, conscious effort and wealth to help the society, particularly the poor and needy.
In a short span of four years, both the B.V. Raju Foundation and the Society could render several ‘social service activities’ keeping ‘Village Development’ concept in mind. The activities cover a wide range of social services like schemes for women empowerment, education, housing, health, hygiene, drinking water supply, and other infrastructure developments.
Dr. B.V Raju’s Foundation also extends help for spiritual activities irrespective of caste or religion.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
The following are the list of educational institutions started by the Dr. B.V. Raju’s Foundation.
1. Padmasri Dr.B.V.Raju Institute of Technology at Narsapur, Medak District, AP offering four-year engineering degree courses in disciplines like Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics & Communications, Electrical & Electronics, Bio-Medical Engineering and Chemical Engineering.
2. Shri Vishnu College of Pharmacy at Bhimavaram offering four-year B.Pharmacy degree courses.
3. Padmasri Dr.B.V.Raju Institute of Computer Education at Bhimavaram offering three- year P.G degree in Computer applications (MCA) and also B.C.A.
4. Smt. B.Seetha Polytechnic at Bhimavaram offering three-year diploma courses in Computer education, electrical & chemical, electronic & instruments, electric & electronic equipment etc.,
5. Shri Vishnu Engineering College for Women, since 2001.
6. The society donated Rs.30 lakhs to Mother Theresa Hospital in Hyderabad to construct and run a Nursing College.
The motto and purpose of both Dr.B.V.Raju Foundation and Sri Vishnu Educational Society is to help the society particularly, the poor and the needy in rural areas in a humble way with god’s grace.