A 62-year-old surgeon from Dhule, Dr Ravi Wankhedkar, devoted over 20 years to remodel 35 acres of barren land close to his hometown to a lush inexperienced haven.
After buying the land in 2003, he confronted quite a few challenges, together with recurring droughts, however he by no means gave up.
Undeterred, he dug trenches, constructed lakes, and invested in water tankers to domesticate over 10,000 timber, all whereas sustaining his medical profession.
His dedication to each well being and the atmosphere earned him the primary ‘Inexperienced Physician Award’ from the Maharashtra State Indian Medical Affiliation.
Dr Wankhedkar, former president of nationwide IMA and SAARC Medical Affiliation, has efficiently balanced his medical profession with a deep dedication to environmental stewardship.
His journey to revitalise the land he calls ‘Ravishrusti’ started in 2003 when he sought to deal with the environmental degradation close to Dhule, his hometown.
“Within the face of extreme droughts, it was an ongoing battle simply to maintain the vegetation alive,” Dr Wankhedkar remembers.
“However every tree that survived felt like a victory,” he mentioned.
Decided to revive the land, he spent two years trying to find the suitable plot and at last selected a shrub-covered, uncultivated stretch that had remained untouched for over a century.
With no historical past of cultivation and going through extreme water shortage, the problem was daunting.
But, by revolutionary strategies like rainwater harvesting, trenching, and the development of two small lakes, a bigger reservoir, and two wells—‘Kuber’ and ‘Laxmi’—he created a sustainable water supply.
Throughout dry spells, Dr Wankhedkar invested as much as Rs 1,000 a day on water tankers to make sure the survival of his newly planted timber.
Over time, he planted greater than 10,000 native timber, rigorously chosen to protect native biodiversity and restore the world’s ecosystem.
“Twice, I needed to depend on water tankers for months, costing hundreds, however every tree that survived was a step nearer to my dream,” he mentioned.
Along with his reforestation efforts, Dr Wankhedkar allotted a part of the land to natural farming, rising greens utilizing sustainable practices.
“I wished to create an area that was each self-sustaining and eco-friendly,” he mentioned.
Regardless of a number of strategies to commercialise his land, Dr Wankhedkar stored his give attention to preservation, turning it right into a peaceable retreat for his household and associates, significantly in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The land turned a refuge, providing contemporary air and psychological peace,” he mentioned.
His ardour for environmental advocacy deepened additional throughout his tenure as treasurer of the World Medical Affiliation, the place he noticed first-hand the pressing well being impacts of local weather change.
He views his inexperienced sanctuary as a small however significant contribution to mitigating air pollution and combating local weather change.
Wanting forward, Dr Wankhedkar plans to ascertain a Nature College to show native college students about plant identification, sustainable farming, and conservation.
Past his personal land, Dr Wankhedkar has partnered with varied NGOs to plant over 50,000 timber in surrounding hills, increasing his reforestation efforts.
His dedication has been extensively praised, with an official from the Maharashtra State IMA noting, “This award is a testomony to Dr Wankhedkar’s multifaceted contributions to environmental conservation and public well being.”
As IMA shared, along with his id as a ‘Expert Surgeon’ and a ‘Chief of Medical doctors,’ Dr Wankhedkar has established a definite popularity as each a ‘Local weather Activist’ and a ‘Progressive Farmer.’
‘This award is a testomony to his multifaceted contributions to healthcare and environmental sustainability. We’ve launched this new award to encourage docs to actively interact in environmental conservation and promote sustainable practices alongside their medical experience,’ mentioned an IMA spokesperson.
Past his inexperienced initiatives, he stays dedicated to his group, having established ‘Shet Shivar Dawakana’, a free clinic working each Wednesday.
The clinic serves native farm labourers and farmers.
