Environmentalist

Tulsi Gowda, an environmentalist, was one of the 119 Padma award nominees for 2020. On social media, a picture of the Karnataka tribal welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, key ministers, and dignitaries at the occasion went viral. The 77-year-old Halakki tribe member is a forest encyclopedia with "endless knowledge" of plants and herbs. She has worked for the environment for over 60 years and planted over 30,000 saplings. 

Prominent environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna died from COVID-19 on May 21 in AIIMS Rishikesh. An activist for his whole life, it was Bahuguna with whose efforts former PM Indira Gandhi banned the cutting of trees. Remembered for the slogan “ecology is the permanent economy,” Bahuguna  dedicated his life towards the conservation of forests and Himalayan region. Bahuguna and his wife also came up with the non-violent Chipko movement for forest… read-more

An IIT-Kharagpur report pointed out that around 20% of Indian land has a toxic level of arsenic in its groundwater. The AI-based prediction stated that over 250 million people were exposed to its toxicity, which is potent enough to cause cancer and skin lesion. Moreover, the study exhibited most concentration in areas surrounding Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra basin. Besides, it suggested a rigorous sampling by the government as records were found… read-more

Central University of Karnataka has awarded an honorary doctorate degree to 108-year-old 'Saalumarada' Thimmakka. The Karnataka-based environmentalist was honoured at her home by the university officials. Also known as Aalada Marada Timakka, 'Saalumarada' (meaning 'rows of trees' in Kannada) has planted nearly 400 banyan trees on a 4-km stretch in her husband’s town in Tumkur district. Among other recognitions, she is also the recipient of… read-more