Former Indian Army soldier Ramesh Ganpat Kharmale, a resident of Junnar in Maharashtra’s Pune district, is being recognised for transforming degraded hills into thriving green spaces through years of voluntary environmental work alongside his wife Swati and their children, Vaishnavi and Mayuresh. After serving 25 years in the 1st Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry, Ramesh redirected his commitment to protecting the nation towards ecological restoration, focusing on water conservation, afforestation, and wildlife revival.
Since beginning work on Dhamankhel Hill in 2021, the family has manually carved 70 contour trenches spanning 412 metres, enabling the storage of nearly 8 lakh litres of rainwater every monsoon while planting more than 450 native trees, with plans to add hundreds more. Their efforts have also led to the creation of a 1.5-acre Oxygen Park in nearby Vadaj village, developed in partnership with the Malhar Foundation and featuring 175 native tree species alongside ponds for wildlife.
Local farmers have reported improved groundwater levels, while the initiative has inspired volunteers across Maharashtra. Ramesh’s work has received national recognition after Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the family’s efforts during the 123rd episode of Mann Ki Baat, while Junnar Range Forest Officer Pradip Chavan described him as one of the department’s most dedicated staff members, noting that Ramesh personally spends ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 every month from his salary on saplings, seeds and conservation tools.
From Soldier to Forest Guardian: A Mission Rooted in Service
For Ramesh, serving the country did not end with retirement from the Army. After leaving military service in 2012, he briefly worked in banking and later established an academy to train tribal youth for careers in the police and defence forces.
Yet witnessing the growing environmental degradation around his native village, including shrinking forests, declining groundwater, disappearing wildlife and increasing soil erosion, prompted him to pursue a different mission. “Both duties I performed are aimed at saving the motherland,” Ramesh has said, crediting the discipline and sense of responsibility instilled during his military career for shaping his conservation journey.
His most significant intervention came in 2021 when he began restoring Dhamankhel Hill using scientifically designed contour trenches, a technique that follows the natural contours of the land to slow rainwater runoff, increase groundwater recharge and prevent erosion.
Over two months, Ramesh manually dug 70 trenches, creating a system capable of retaining nearly 8 lakh litres of water every rainy season. The once-barren hillside now supports hundreds of native trees and has gradually become a habitat for birds, insects and local vegetation.
The initiative has remained deeply personal and family-driven. Every weekend, Ramesh, his wife Swati, daughter Vaishnavi and son Mayuresh climb the hills carrying tools, saplings and water, spending long hours planting trees, clearing invasive weeds and maintaining trenches. “Seeing our trees grow gives us immense satisfaction,” Swati has said, describing conservation as a shared family commitment rather than an individual achievement.
Their efforts extend beyond afforestation. In Vadaj village, the Kharmale family collaborated with the Malhar Foundation to establish a 1.5-acre Oxygen Park, where 175 native species, including banyan and lemon trees, have been planted through a community-supported funding model. Four ponds were also constructed to provide water for birds and wild animals during dry seasons, further strengthening local biodiversity.
Community Participation and National Recognition Strengthen the Movement
Ramesh’s conservation work has steadily evolved into a wider community movement. Since 2013, the family has organised annual seed-ball distribution drives across the Sahyadri hills before the monsoon, encouraging natural forest regeneration. They have also led plastic-free campaigns at tourist destinations across Junnar, mobilising thousands of volunteers, school students and local residents to protect fragile ecosystems. To reduce the risk of devastating forest fires, Ramesh purchased a grass-cutting machine in 2017 to remove dry vegetation from vulnerable areas.
The family’s environmental awareness efforts have gained significant reach through their social media platform, ‘Nisargaramya Junnar Taluka’, which now has over 50,000 followers and regularly encourages citizens to participate in plantation drives, clean-up campaigns and wildlife conservation initiatives. Volunteers from multiple districts have joined these activities, helping expand the impact beyond Junnar.
Recognising his commitment, Ramesh later joined the Maharashtra Forest Department as a forest guard, allowing him to combine official responsibilities with his voluntary conservation work. Despite holding a government position, he continues funding many of his weekend activities himself. According to Junnar Range Forest Officer Pradip Chavan, “He is one of our most dedicated staff members,” adding that Ramesh invests ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 every month from his salary on saplings, seeds and equipment.
The family’s work also received national attention when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the 123rd episode of Mann Ki Baat, praised their efforts to restore forests, conserve water and bring wildlife back to the region. Earlier, Ramesh was honoured with the Shivneri Bhushan Award for his contributions to community service and sustainable tourism. Despite these recognitions, he continues to encourage citizens to adopt simpleenvironmental practices, often sharing the message: “Plant four trees for your children’s future.”
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe Ramesh’s journey demonstrates that environmental conservation is not solely the responsibility of governments or institutions. Sustainable change becomes possible when ordinary citizens combine scientific knowledge, consistent action and community participation to address local challenges. His story also reminds us that patriotism can take many forms, whether protecting borders or restoring forests that sustain future generations.
As India continues to confront climate change, water scarcity and biodiversity loss, grassroots initiatives like Ramesh’s highlight the importance of empowering local communities while strengthening institutional support for citizen-led conservation. Recognising such efforts is important, but creating systems that enable more people to contribute can have an even greater impact.
What simple step do you think every family or community can take today to make their neighbourhood greener and more resilient for future generations?
Also Read: Assam’s Wildlife Champion Bharat Bora Turns His Home Into A Lifeline For Injured Wildlife
