As the World Biodiversity Day approaches, 70-year-old woman environmentalist Maibam Ningol Memma Devi from Wangjing Hodamba maning leikai, Thoubal district in Manipur eagerly awaits to give away her tree saplings free of cost for planting on the particular occasion.
Recalling her past, Memma told this Imphal Free Press correspondent that she started growing saplings by herself in her courtyard in 2002. During those days, she noticed that several fully grown trees near her locality were cut down mainly for constructing residential houses, she said.
After seeing the trees being felled in a reckless manner, she took up the idea of planting more trees not only at her locality but at other public places as well. She started collecting saplings grown at roadside and planted them at lanes and playgrounds. Moreover, she wanted to distribute the saplings she prepared to club volunteers for planting at their respective club campuses, she mentioned.
To fulfil her goals, she selected the World Environment Day for planting her home made saplings through club volunteers and others, she added.
She continued that, this year also, she will distribute several saplings to every green revolutionary or tree lover for planting on the coming World Environment Day. Those saplings are made by herself and not through government assistance. Anybody who likes to plant trees may feel free to call 8798136743 and take saplings free of cost, she added.
She said that her saplings include medicinal plants like ‘Ningthou Khongli’ and different kinds of fruit bearing trees. Environmentalist Memma emphasised that one should encourage planting of ‘Yongchak’ in large numbers so that the hard earned money of the people stays in the state.
“We should join hands on safeguarding our deteriorating environment at any cost,” she added.
