One man’s daily beach cleanup in Odisha sparks volunteer movement

Paradip: What began as a solo mission to clean a littered shoreline has grown into a community movement, after the story of 29-year-old Bapi Gochhayat gained national attention.

Every morning at 6 a.m., before reporting to work at Paradip College, Gochhayat cycles to Paradip Beach with a bag to collect plastic waste. The routine started in 2022 after he saw plastic washing into the sea during a morning walk. “For two hours every day, he collected discarded bottles, wrappers, and other litter,” often returning home before heading to his job. A college dropout with limited resources, Gochhayat never waited for support. Over three years, his efforts removed more than five tonnes of plastic from the beach.

He also began speaking to visitors about responsible waste disposal and environmental awareness, earning recognition as a Prakruti Bandhu for his contribution to nature conservation.