Life & Legacy of a Social Reformist: Dr. Baba Adhav
Dr. Babasaheb Pandurang Adhav (born 1 June 1930, Pune, Maharastra, India) fondly known as Baba is an Indian social activist and trade unionist well know for his work in creating social reforms for unorganized and underprivileged daily wage workers. These include head loaders, waste-pickers, street vendors, and other weaker denominations in Maharashtra and parts of India. Taking his ideological inspirations from Mahatma Jyotiba Phule , Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar , and Mahatma Gandhi , he continues his work in getting India’s unprotected laborers social security, legal protection, medical insurance, credit and most importantly, life of Dignity. Some of his key social reforms include establishing unorganized workers’ trade union the Hamal Panchayat , and introducing minimum wages for head loaders and laborers, the creation and implementation of Maharashtra Mathadi Hamal And Other Manual Workers Act and instigating the Ek Gaav, Ek Panavtha (translation One village, one pond )