When mother Earth is grappling with various problems due to climate change and people are reeling under natural disasters like flood, drought, heat waves, and forest fires across the globe, a divyanga teacher from Odisha’s Jajpur district is on a ‘green mission’ to inspire the next generation.
Meet green crusader Gadadhara Behera who is a teacher at Baidyarajpur Nodal School in the district. Though teaching is his profession, planting trees is his passion. Being a divyanga has not deterred his spirit.
Though he is not able to walk without the help of a walker, he goes the extra mile to plant thousands of trees in his and nearby schools.
Gadadhara has virtually transformed his school into a botanical garden with hundreds of flowers, fruits, and medicinal plants. Such is his passion, dedication and determination in plantation activities that he is popular as ‘Tree Teacher’ in the area.
“Planting trees is the only solution to cope up with the climate change and save the mother earth from various disasters. Trees will make human beings healthy, peaceful and prosperous,” said Gadadhara.
He has also inspired hundreds of students to take plantation as a mission of their lives. Apart from teaching regular courses, Gadadhara also teaches students about the various utilities of trees. He takes a lot of pleasure in training students in various tree grafting tricks to create new saplings.
“We have been really influenced by the broad ideas of Gadadhara sir. He has done a lot of hard work to transform our school into a paradise by planting hundreds of ornamental trees. All the students are inspired by him to take plantation as a mission on our lives,” said a student.
Apart from plantation, Gadadhara also prepares environment-friendly organic manure to supply nutrients to the trees. He has also started pisciculture in the school to inspire students to take up agricultural activities. He makes shelters for birds and gives them food and water on the school premises.
“Gadadhar sir is our pride. With the help of students and teachers, he has created a beautiful environment in the school and transformed it into an ideal educational institution,” said Bandana Das, Headmistress of Baidyarajpur Nodal School.