Mangaluru: Padma Shri awardee and environmentalist Salumarada Thimmakka and Ramakrishna Mission have been selected for the prestigious state-level ‘Vandana Award – 2019’.
The award will be presented to them in recognition of their tremendous contributions in the field of environmental protection and empowerment and the programme will be held at Hotel Ocean Pearl on June 26 at around 6 pm.
Chairman of the Vandana awards committee Rtn Dr. B. Devadas Pai told mediapersons that the award is jointly instituted by Rotary Club of Mangaluru Central and Rotaract Club Mangaluru City. Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer Dr Selvamani will be the chief guest at the programme and President of Rotary Club of Mangaluru Central Rtn Santhosh Shet will preside over the programme.
Rotary Club and Rotaract Club annually confer their prestigious state-level Vandana Award to the achievers in the field of sports, literature, Industry, business, Banking, Music, Science, Art, Culture and Social Service. The Vandana Awards started in the year 2005.
Saalumarada Thimmakka
Salumarada Thimmakka, the 107-year-old environmentalist from Karnataka has planted 385 banyan trees along a 4-km stretch of highway between Hulikal and Kudur and has been maintaining them. She used her own meagre resources to plant these trees. She along with her husband, used to carry four pails of water for a distance of 4 km to water the saplings. The plants were also protected from cattle by fencing them with thorny shrubs. Initially she wanted to commit suicide when she was unable to bear a child. But, she changed her mind and diverted her attention to environment protection. With the support of her husband, she found solace in planting trees. She received no formal education and worked as a daily wager 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. She also received many more awards for her contribution towards environment like Nadoja award, national citizens award, Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamithra award, among others.
Rotary Club Past President Rtn. Santhosh Shet, Secretary Rtn. Joel Lobo, and Rotaract President Rtr. Ganesh G T were present.
