Dr. Tejas Doshi: The Man Behind Bhavnagar’s Journey Towards a Plastic-Free Future
Rajkot : For over a decade, Dr. Tejas Doshi, a general physician serving in Bhavnagar for the last 23 years, has been on a mission to make his city plastic-free. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "Swachh Bharat Mission," Dr. Doshi has launched several environmental initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability and cleanliness.
“Over the past decade, the state of our forests and public spaces has deteriorated, littered with plastic bottles, bags, and waste. Someone had to take the initiative to clean it up, and I decided that I would begin that journey here in Bhavnagar,” said Dr. Doshi.
As India celebrates 'Swachhata Hi Seva Abhiyan' starting from September 17, on Prime Minister Modi's birthday, Dr. Doshi’s ongoing efforts to clean up Bhavnagar have gained national attention. His remarkable contributions to environmental protection earned him the title of Brand Ambassador for Bhavnagar's 'Swachh Bharat Mission' by the Indian government in 2019.
The 'No Honking Project' in 2014
Dr. Doshi first initiated the 'No Honking Project' in 2014 to combat noise pollution. He involved 52 schools and 52,000 students in raising awareness about the negative effects of unnecessary honking. The students stood at major intersections holding banners, encouraging drivers to reduce honking without shouting slogans or disrupting traffic. What started as a 52-week project expanded to 153 weeks, involving over 153,000 students across Bhavnagar and beyond, inspiring similar projects in cities like Surat, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.
11 Lakh Pens Distributed to the Needy
In 2019, Dr. Doshi launched the 'Joy of Giving' project, a recycling initiative aimed at repurposing used plastic pens. Through social media, he asked people to donate old pens, which he would refill and distribute to underprivileged students. By June 2024, the project had distributed over 11 lakh pens, benefiting over 3.5 lakh students across Gujarat and even in states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Nagaland. The project has also reached international shores, with contributions arriving from cities like Chicago and Melbourne.
'Don’t Cut the Corner' Campaign
To tackle the issue of plastic waste clogging the city’s drainage system, Dr. Doshi launched the 'Don’t Cut the Corner' campaign in 2019. The campaign aimed to stop people from cutting the corners of plastic milk and curd pouches, which often ended up in the garbage and blocked drains. He educated over 2.5 lakh students and women in over 130 societies in Bhavnagar, urging them to adopt more sustainable practices when disposing of plastic packaging.
India’s First Eco-Bricks Park in Bhavnagar
In response to increasing plastic waste after the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Doshi started the Eco-Bricks initiative, asking residents to fill empty plastic bottles with single-use plastics. Although the initial response was slow, offering incentives helped the campaign gather momentum, leading to the collection of over 1.8 lakh bottles within a year. These eco-bricks were used to create India's first Eco-Bricks Park in Bhavnagar, with the project receiving recognition as a ‘Best Module Project’ by the Ministry of Urban Development.
Cotton Bag Project
In a continued effort to reduce plastic waste, Dr. Doshi launched the Cotton Bag Project in 2022, where he offered a free cloth bag in exchange for 50 plastic bags. This initiative has seen the distribution of 1.5 lakh cloth bags, reducing 75 lakh plastic bags from circulation. The collected plastic bags are sent to recycling plants, where they are used to make roads and blocks.
A Movement for the Future
Dr. Doshi's environmental campaigns have grown from a team of 14 people in 2014 to a movement involving over 2.5 million participants today. His projects focus on changing habits, encouraging people to embrace environmentally friendly lifestyles aligned with Prime Minister Modi’s 'Mission LiFE' (Lifestyle for Environment). “The Swachh Bharat Mission is crucial, and its impact will be seen in the coming years. Through these initiatives, we are giving the next generation a cleaner, greener India,” Dr. Doshi says.
