Pimpri: For the last 12 years, regardless of weather conditions, Bhaskar Gokhale, a resident of Ravet, Pimpri-Chinchwad, has been quietly collecting litter from the streets without fail.
Armed with nothing but a broom and his bicycle, Gokhale dedicates five hours every morning to his selfless mission of maintaining the cleanliness of his surroundings. His work, which he carries out without seeking any payment, involves picking up trash and handing it over to municipal garbage collectors.
Gokhale, now regarded as a "cleanliness ambassador," has inspired others in his community with his persistence and dedication to keeping the streets clean.
His mission started in 2012 when he noticed the city’s growing problem of litter and felt the need to take action. Gokhale questioned why the responsibility of maintaining cleanliness should fall solely on municipal workers and decided to take matters into his own hands.
Inspired by the legendary social worker Baba Amte, he began his efforts by cleaning his own neighborhood and street.
Every day from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., Gokhale can be seen cleaning the streets of Ravet. His passion for cleanliness has been unbroken for over a decade, with only a few days of exception when he’s out of town. His efforts, however, did not go unnoticed by the community.
In an attempt to raise awareness and encourage local residents to take pride in their surroundings, Gokhale launched the "This is the New Ravet" campaign.
As he worked diligently, people in the neighborhood began to take note of his tireless efforts. After seeing him clean the streets every day, a few curious residents approached him, asking why he was doing it.
Gokhale explained the importance of cleanliness and soon inspired others to join him in his mission. Three to four citizens started helping him clean when they had spare time.
Over time, Gokhale’s group grew to include engineers, local business owners, IT professionals, and college students. Social media also became a platform for Gokhale to spread awareness about his work and encourage more people to join the cause.
In addition to his cleanliness efforts, Gokhale has taken up the responsibility of planting trees on his birthday. Unlike other tree-planting programs that often fail to monitor the growth and health of planted saplings, Gokhale takes personal care of the trees he plants.
Every year, he plants two trees in open spaces and ensures their survival by carrying water bottles with him to water them every day. His dedication to environmental conservation goes hand-in-hand with his cleanliness efforts.
Currently, Gokhale is also actively working with the Pune regional office of Baba Amte’s Anandwan and dedicates his time to full-time work with the Maharogi Sewa Samiti, a non-profit organization founded by Amte.
"Since childhood, I have had a passion for cleanliness. After learning about the great work of senior social worker Baba Amte, I realized that I too should do something for society. That’s when I decided to start working toward changing the unsanitary conditions in the city and improving public health," said Bhaskar Gokhale, reflecting on his journey.
