World Forest Day: Odisha's woman green crusader who overcame social taboo to plant thousands of trees

The whole mankind knows the dire consequences of global warming that the mother earth is currently grappling with mainly due to deforestation. However, most of us feel it is someone else’s duty to plant trees and restore the lost greenery and the heavy damage inflicted on the environment. Fewer people are consciously and actively executing the arduous and thankless job with a lot of struggle and without any support.

Moreover, if you are a married woman and belong to a lower middle-class background in Odisha, the job is more arduous and challenging. It’s because of the social taboo associated with a woman stepping outside her house alone or in groups to plant saplings.

Meet Amita Tarei from Jharakata village under Krushna Prasad block in Puri district who has overcome the social taboo and restrictions from his family members to prepare her as a green crusader. The 33-year-old lady has so far planted thousands of saplings and grown those into huge trees on the roadside, barren land and on the premises of schools, colleges and hospitals.

Amita had an inclination for social service from her very childhood. However, she didn’t have any scope at her paternal house as their economic condition was not that good. However, they say-when there is a will there is a way. After her marriage, her husband Bulamani Majhi respected her feeling and encouraged her to social service. Then Amita was mostly inspired by Himanshu Sekhar Nayak who has got the sobriquet of ‘Tree Man’ in their area. Nayak was running a plantation movement in the area named ‘Green Parikuda’.

Amita joined the movement in 2019 and along with other members of the organisation they have so far planted more than one lakh trees. Apart from that, Amita herself has planted more than 25,000 trees.

“Almost all the plants we have planted have grown into huge trees. It gives me immense satisfaction,” said Amita.

However, the job was not easy for Amita in the beginning. Her in-laws did not support her and forbade her to go outside their house and plant trees by the roadside. However, with all the patience in the world, Amita gradually convinced them about the importance of plantation. Things became a little bit easier when she joined a Self Help Group. She started convincing other women about the utility of plantation and all of them worked together to grow trees in their area.

Gradually, people in the area started accepting Amita’s social service and heaped praise for her selfless work. Because of Amita’s social work, people also respected her in-laws. With her dedication, determination and hard work, Amita was finally able to get full support from her in-laws. As recognition of her selfless work, she has been felicitated by more than 25 organisations across Odisha so far. Bolstered by her success, Amita has set an aim to create a palm grove of 10,000 plants this year.

“I got inspired by ‘Tree Man’ Himanshu Sekhar Nayak and started plantation work from July 1, 2019. I am thankful to all my family members for supporting me. I plant and take care of trees for two hours every day. I also conduct awareness programmes on plantation and how to stop forest fire. I request one and all and especially women to plant and grow trees after completing their duty towards their family members as human beings can’t survive without plans,” said Amita.