06/11/2024
Dr. Ravindra Kolhe, known as India's "One-Rupee Doctor," has dedicated his life to helping impoverished and underserved communities. Growing up in a middle-class family, he completed his medical degree at Government Medical College, Nagpur, receiving his MBBS in 1985 and his MD in 1987. Since then, Dr. Kolhe has been working tirelessly in the remote hilly area of Bairagarh, where people had to walk miles to see a doctor, and where children suffered from malnutrition.
A social activist and doctor, he charges only one rupee per patient and uses his bicycle to reach those in need. Dr. Kolhe is married to Dr. Samita Kolhe, a specialist in homeopathy and Ayurveda, who has been working alongside him since 1985. Besides healthcare, they also run a government ration shop for the community.
Together, the couple leads awareness campaigns focused on women’s health and education for tribal communities. They have pioneered improvements in tribal life and healthcare, helping bring electricity, roads, and primary health centers to the villages. Dr. Kolhe has also extended his work to agriculture, power generation, and labor wage improvements.
Their life’s work has transformed countless lives, saved thousands, and improved health conditions across the region.
Achievements:
Reduction in Mortality Rates: They reduced the preschool mortality rate from 400 per 1,000 to 100 and the infant mortality rate from 200 per 1,000 to 40 per 1,000.
Recognition: In 2019, Dr. Kolhe received the Padma Shri award from the Government of India.
Books on Dr. Ravindra and Dr. Samita Kolhe:
1. Melghatavaril Mohar: Dr. Ravindra and Dr. Samita Kolhe (2015) by Rajhans Prakashan
2. Bairagad: Dr. Ravindra and Samita Kolhe’s Struggles (2019)
3. Being the Change: In the Footsteps of the Mahatma by Ashutosh Salil