Ravi Gaikwad is an Indian civil servant and officer in the Government of Maharashtra cadre.[2] He is senior member of Road Safety Cell of Government of Maharashtra formed by Supreme Court of India and chief of RTO, Thane and the Konkan region.[3][4] He serves as the chairman of the Handball Federation of India, a member of International Handball Federation.[5] He is also on the board of Indian Olympic Association and All India Football Federation and the Chairman of Shant Bharat Surakshit Bharat.[6] He has been reelected as President of Handball Association of Maharashtra for second consecutive term in June 2022.[1][7]

Ravi Gaikwad
Gaikwad in 2018
Born
Education
Occupation(s)Chief of RTO, Government of Maharashtra
Organizations
Known forRoad Safety World Series
SpouseDr Nirmala Gaikwad
Children2
Websitewww.ravigaikwad.com

Early life and education edit

Ravi Gaikwad was born in Pune to Pushpa and Kisanrao Gaikwad. He completed his early education at Little Flower Convent High School and received his Engineering Degree in Electronics and Telecommunications.[8][2]

Gaikwad was a state topper in the merit list of Higher Secondary Certificate Examinations (HSC) in Maharashtra State. He has represented in Under 15, Under 17, and Under 19 categories of Maharashtra and was selected in the Ranji Trophy Camp of Maharashtra. After engineering he joined TATA as a scientist. Gaikwad cleared Civil Services and joined the Government of Maharashtra.[9] He received two Gold Medals one for being first in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering and also being first in all the branches of Engineering across all Universities in the state of Maharashtra. He has a remarkable feat of having scored 100/100 in two subjects of his final year of Engineering.[10] Ravi has completed his PhD (Doctorate in Philosophy) in (Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering) and PhD (Doctorate in Philosophy) in Sports.[1]

Road Safety World Series edit

 
Ravi Gaikwad, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar at a function of Road Safety in Mumbai on 17th October, 2019

Ravi Gaikwad is the founder of Road Safety World Series who promotes Road Safety to save Indian lives on Indian Roads.[11][9] Government of India plays an important role in Road Safety World Series. Hon. Minister Nitin Gadkari has been supporting this series for such a noble cause of road safety.[12][13]

It is a legends Cricket World Cup, an annual event.[14] Every year almost three lakh people die on Indian Roads in road accidents and a million people are handicapped every year. Sachin Tendulkar is the Brand Ambassador of the series and Mr Sunil Gavaskar is the commissioner of the series.[15] Season 1 commenced at Wankhede stadium in March 2020 and was split in two phases due to covid concluding in March 2021 at Raipur.[16][17]

Ravi Gaikwad is also playing in the India Legends team as a player under the captaincy of Sachin Tendulkar in Road safety world series to promote Road safety.[18] Ravi Gaikwad, the founder of the series got together with Yohan Blake, Olympic Gold Medallist to promote the noble cause of road safety in this series.[19]

Public safety edit

 
Ravi Gaikwad receiving the Award of Government of Maharashtra from the hands of Hon Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shree Uddhav Thackeray on 16th of Jan 2020 in Mumbai

Gaikwad worked as the head regional transport officer of the Andheri RTO. In 2009, he was accused in controversies related to registration of imported bikes. (Ultimately he was exonerated of all charges).[20] Subsequently, he was transferred to Beed but he did not join the office there. In 2015, Gaikwad was appointed as the deputy regional transport officer. He also held the office of Borivali Regional Transport Office, Mumbai as the Chief. Currently he is the head of RTO Thane and Konkan.[4]

In 2018, Gaikwad organized the 'Horn Not Ok' campaign to increase road safety awareness. The drive was attended by Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and Shikhar Dhawan.[4]

During the coronavirus lockdown, in May 2020, Gaikwad saw action against illegal transport of migrants with them issuing 250 memos to such vehicles.[21]

Shant Bharat Surakshit Bharat edit

Ravi Gaikwad is the chairman of "Shant Bharat Surakshit Bharat" a philanthropic trust.[14][22] To fulfill Ravi Gaikwad's Shant Bharat Surakshit Bharat, Road Safety 2024 Initiative is organized by DM Foundation in association with Brahma Kumaris.[23][24]

US Hall of Fame edit

Ravi Gaikwad has been inducted in US Hall of fame. The others inducted in Hall of fame Since its inception are several former cricket stars including Sir Donald George Bradman, Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Leonard Hutton, Sir Vivian Richards, Abid Sayed Ali, Alvin Kallicharran, Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Viswanath.[25]

Awards and honors edit

 
Ravi Gaikwad receiving International Mother Teresa Award at the hands of Hon Governor Of Maharashtra Shree Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on 23rd February, 2022
  • SAKAL AWARD for good governance and as a cricketer in the field of sports[26]
  • Man of excellence Award 2020 from IndianAchiever's forum[27]
  • Best Engineer's Award by Engineer's Association of India (EAI)[26]
  • Nelson Mandela Humanitarian Award for social welfare[28]
  • The Times Group's third edition of "Global Indians 2022" has 25 additional well-known individuals in addition to Ravi Gaikwad's biography.[29][30]
  • Guinness World Record for the largest handball class conducted to encourage the playing of handball in India.[31]
  • Road Safety Award from Government of Maharashtra for spreading awareness and in turn reducing the number of deaths and road accidents in the state.[32]
  • Guinness book of world record for Road Safety in 2016[33]
  • CSR Times Award 2020 for promoting road safety, sports, and social welfare.[34]
  • In May 2021, Gaikwad has been honoured with INDIA CORONA AWARD by Wockhardt Foundation.[35] In the same year he has also been honoured with COVID FIGHTERS AWARD by Government of Maharashtra.[36]
  • Mother Teresa International Award 2022 for Social Justice by Governor of Maharashtra.[37]
  • Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar for promotion of Road Safety.[38]
  • Zee Lifetime Achievement Award in Engineering, Science and Technology[39]
  • Times Lifetime Achievement Award,Times Brand Icon by Times Group in Sports[40]
  • CNBC Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports[39]

Personal life edit

Gaikwad is married with Dr Nirmala who is a practicing physician and they have two children.[35]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Gupta, Gaurav (9 June 2022). "Ravi Gaikwad re-elected as president of Handball Association of Maharashtra | More sports News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  2. ^ a b "Ravi Gaikwad, Riding Love For Cricket To Save Lives On Indian Roads". Outlook. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Sachin Tendulkar joins hands with legends for Road Safety World Series". The New Indian Express.
  4. ^ a b c Joshi, Yukti (15 July 2019). "Thane RTO puts road safety in first gear". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Philanthropist Ravi Gaikwad conferred Humanitarian Activist Influencer Award". Free Press Journal. The Indian Express.
  6. ^ "Yohan Blake to promote road safety in India". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Ravi Gaikwad: A Leader Forging Paths in Administration, Road Safety, and Sports". Bru Times News.
  8. ^ "Ravi Gaikwad solid Historical Legacy & Social Work endeavours will keep you hooked! All you need to know about him". The Week.
  9. ^ a b "Ravi Gaikwad: Man with a mission". The Economic Times. November 2019.
  10. ^ Bose, Soumitra (14 February 2022). "Ravi Gaikwad, Riding Love For Cricket To Save Lives On Indian Roads". Outlookindia.
  11. ^ "Road Safety World Series: Here's how cricketers drove home the point on road safety before COVID-19 lockdown". Asianet News.
  12. ^ "Road Safety Cricket series gets boost". The Indian Express.
  13. ^ "Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara to return to action in Road Safety World Series T20". Lokmat English. 9 February 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Special conversation with Ravi Gaikwad, who connects cricket with road safety campaign - रोड सेफ्टी मुहिम के लिए सचिन फिर उठाएंगे बल्ला वीडियो - हिन्दी न्यूज़ वीडियो एनडीटीवी ख़बर". NDTV Khabar. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  15. ^ "England and Bangladesh Legends to feature in Road Safety World Series". Sportstar. The Hindu. 15 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara to return to action in Road Safety World Series T20". BW Businessworld.
  17. ^ "Road Safety World Series: Indian legends to face Bangladesh in opener on March 5 | Cricket News - Times of India". The Times of India. 23 February 2021.
  18. ^ "India Legends | Squad, News, Fixtures and more". Road Safety World Series.
  19. ^ "Yohan Blake and Ravi Gaikwad speak to TIMES NOW's Aruneel". Times Now.
  20. ^ Deshpande, Alok (24 January 2019). "After 12 years, RTO officer absolved of false charges". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  21. ^ "COVID-19: Maha transport commissioner conducts surprise check at Thane". www.mid-day.com. 16 May 2020.
  22. ^ "RTO Thane chief Ravi Gaikwad adds another feather on his cap". The Indian Express.
  23. ^ "Ravi Gaikwad, RTO THANE, DM Foundation, Brahma Kumaris work towards campaign of Road Safety". ANI.
  24. ^ "Ravi Gaikwad's Road Safety 2024 Initiative organized by DM Foundation and in association with Brahma Kumaris". Bru Times News.
  25. ^ Chambers, Michael. "Cricket Hall of Fame endorses Road Safety World Series". Cricket Hall of fame.
  26. ^ a b "RTO Chief: Ravi Gaikwad inducted into USA Cricket Hall of fame". Free Press Journal.
  27. ^ "Ravi Gaikwad, Chief of RTO Thane, honoured with Man of Excellence Award". Mid-day. 28 November 2020.
  28. ^ "Esteemed Philanthropist Ravi Gaikwad wins Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award". ANI.
  29. ^ "GLOBAL INDIANS 2022 presented". The Economic Times. 29 June 2022.
  30. ^ The Global Indians 2022. The Times Group. 23 June 2022. pp. 110–113. ISBN 978-8195541157.
  31. ^ "Largest handball lesson". Guinness World Records. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  32. ^ Bureau, Outlook Web (14 February 2022). "Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thakre Fetes Thane RTO Chief Ravi Gailkwad For Road Safety Measures". Outlook (Indian magazine).
  33. ^ "Mumbai: DRTO Borivli enters Guinness World Records for holding largest road safety class". DNA India.
  34. ^ "Ravi Gaikwad, Chief of RTO Thane felicitated with CSR TIMES AWARD 2020". BW Businessworld.
  35. ^ a b "Ravi Gaikwad Is a Powerhouse Of The Philanthropic Arena! Keep Reading To Know Why". Outlook India.
  36. ^ "Illustrious Social Worker -Ravi Gaikwad Bags COVID Fighters Award, Given By Maharashtra Government". www.mid-day.com. 23 May 2021.
  37. ^ "23.02.2022: Governor presents Mother Teresa Memorial Award to Jitender Singh Shunty and Ravi Kiran Gaikwad | Raj Bhavan Maharashtra | India". RajBhawan.
  38. ^ "Promoter of Road Safety World Series Ravi Gaikwad receives Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar". Free Press Journal.
  39. ^ a b "Cricket Hall of Fame endorses Road Safety World Series". Mykhel. 14 January 2023.
  40. ^ "Ravi Gaikwad is bestowed with The Times Brand Icon 2021- Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Category". Newsonair. 12 October 2021.

External links edit