Saalumarada Thimmakka, also known as Aalada Marada Timakka, is an India environmentalist from the state of Karnataka , noted for her work in planting and tending to 385 banyan trees along a four-kilometre stretch of highway between Hulikal and Kudur . She has also planted nearly 8000 other trees. With the support of her husband, she found solace in planting trees.
She received no formal education and worked as a casual laborer in a nearby quarry. Her work has been honoured with the National Citizen’s Award of India. Her work was recognized by the Government of India and she was conferred with Padma Shri in 2019.
Ficus(banyan) trees were aplenty near Thimmakka’s village. Thimakka and her husband started grafting saplings from these trees. Ten saplings were grafted in the first year and they were planted along a distance of 5 km near the neighboring village of Kudoor. 15 saplings were planted in the second year and 20 in the third year. She used her meager resources for planting these trees.The couple used to carry four pails of water for a distance of four kilometers to water the saplings. They were also protected from grazing cattle by fencing them with thorny shrubs.
She inspired many of the youngster . She is building hope to everyone.Even she had faced many difficult situations in her life,But turned those into boon, She became a recipient of PADMA SHRI award.
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