Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Civic Sense Heroes Campaign Celebrates Indians Who Repair and Rebuild
Every year, India celebrates Independence Day, a day when people feel proud of their country.
This year, a news website called The Better India started a special campaign called #CivicSenseHeroes.
The campaign looks for ordinary people who do kind things for their city, like fixing roads or cleaning lakes.
One hero is Dadarao, a vegetable seller in Mumbai.
His son died after falling from a motorbike when it hit a pothole, so Dadarao began filling potholes so no one else would get hurt.
He has fixed more than 1,500 potholes!
Another hero is Anand in Bengaluru, who learned how to bring dried-up lakes back to life and has helped more than 35 of them.
In Chennai, thousands of neighbours joined together to clean a lake, and the government gave money to help restore it.
The campaign wants us to understand that loving your country also means taking care of it.
It invites people to nominate their own civic heroes online.
The Better India launched #CivicSenseHeroes, a year-long, nationwide campaign to find, celebrate and recognise Indians who care for public spaces.
Dadarao Bilhore, a Mumbai vegetable vendor, has filled more than 1,500 potholes since his son Prakash died in a 2015 motorbike accident caused by a pothole.
Gangadhara Tilak Katnam, a retired railway engineer in Hyderabad nicknamed "the doctor of roads," repairs potholes using his own pension.
Anand Malligavad, a former mechanical engineer in Bengaluru, has revived more than 35 lakes, including a 36-acre lake restored in 45 days.
Over 2,000 residents of Chitlapakkam in Chennai cleaned their lake each weekend, and their persistence pushed the government to sanction ₹25 crore for its restoration.
- Who
- The Better India and everyday citizens, including Dadarao Bilhore, Gangadhara Tilak Katnam, Anand Malligavad, Dr Hemant Agarwal, Manoj Ranjan and Chitlapakkam residents.
- What
- Launch of the #CivicSenseHeroes campaign to find, celebrate and recognise Indians who turn pride into action by caring for roads, lakes, parks and public spaces.
- When
- Announced on Independence Day; selected heroes will be recognised nationally around Republic Day over the coming year.
- Where
- Across India, with featured examples in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Ranchi.
- Why
- To show that true patriotism is civic sense and to inspire more people to take responsibility for their communities.
- Campaign
- #CivicSenseHeroes by The Better India, a year-long nationwide initiative
- Dadarao Bilhore
- Mumbai vegetable vendor who filled more than 1,500 potholes
- Prakash Bilhore
- 16-year-old who died in July 2015 after his motorbike hit a pothole in Mumbai
- Gangadhara Tilak Katnam
- Retired railway engineer in Hyderabad nicknamed "the doctor of roads"
- Anand Malligavad
- Revived more than 35 lakes, including a 36-acre lake restored in 45 days
- Chitlapakkam lake movement
- Over 2,000 Chennai residents; government sanctioned ₹25 crore for restoration
- Ajja-Ajji Park
- Green space created from a dump yard in Bengaluru's Domlur by Dr Hemant Agarwal and citizens
- Recognition
- Outstanding citizens to be recognised nationally around Republic Day