Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil (Padmashri awardee) was a man of vision who recognized the poor state of farming and the indebtedness of farmers. This persuaded him to uplift the farmers through an establishment of co-operative sugar factory at Loni, a first of its kind in Asia. To educate the masses is the only solution to uplift them with this thought in mind he started Pravara Rural Education Society, Pravaranagar in 1964.