A BSc student from Madhya Pradesh has captured widespread attention after videos of him cleaning the trash-filled Ajnar River went viral. Surendra Singh Choudhary, popularly known as Bittu Tabahi, began removing plastic, bottles, weeds and other waste from the river in Biaora in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district, eventually continuing the clean-up largely on his own.
Karnataka shepherd Kalmane Kamegowda spent years digging ponds around Dasanadoddi village in Mandya district. His efforts were later praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Without government support, he constructed more than 16 ponds, helping provide water for animals and birds while also contributing to groundwater rejuvenation. Kamegowda died in 2022.
His initiative has earned widespread praise, but Choudhary is not the first Indian to step in when a problem appeared too big for one person. Over the years, several individuals have taken matters into their own hands and created a lasting impact with limited resources.
