Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao felicitated 110-year-old Indian environmentalist, Saalumarada Thimmakka, at Pragati Bhavan on May 18. She is from Karnataka and a real-life embodiment of mother nature, reported NDTV.
Thimmakka is noted for her work in planting and tending almost 400 banyan trees near her home on a 45-kilometre-long stretch of highway between Hulikal and Kudur. She found solace in planting trees, and with the support of her husband, she has also grown about 8,000 other trees.
“Thimmakka has dedicated her entire life to mother nature. No one will ever match her commitment to conserving the environment. I hope she continues to lead a happy life with good health,” Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said.
“Chief Minister Rao is working very hard for the development of Telangana state,” said Thimmakka. She expressed happiness over the current situation of Telangana in the spheres of agriculture, forestry etc., under the leadership of Rao.
In a tweet, Telangana Rajya Sabha MP Santosh Kumar J wrote, “#GreenIndiaChallenge is delighted to have #Padmashree #SaalumaradaThimmakka garu and happy to plant a sapling along with her today. My pleasure that she has announced an award from Thimmakka Green Foundation to be presented on her 111th birthday on 28th June. #Blessed.”
“Honoured to meet #PadmaShree Smt. #SaalumaradaThimmakka, garu a noted environmentalist, at Pragathi Bhavan along with our CM Sri #KCR garu, Creator of Telangana’s Green Movement, Haritha Haram. Such a humble personality and am glad that she liked my work through #GIC,” the tweet further read.