Dear Friends,
‘Padma Shri’ (2019), Jamuna Tudu is an environmental activist. She is called ‘Lady Tarzan’ for taking on the Timber mafias and Naxals in Jharkhand. Tudu is also the founder of “Van Suraksha Samiti’ which prevents illegal felling of trees near her village in Jharkhand.
Jamuna’s quest with forest conservation started in the year 2000. Hailing from Mathurgham- Chakulia village of East Singhbum district in Jharkhand, she noticed that many trees were being illegally cut in the nearby forests by a forest mafia.
It was even more disturbing for Tudu that none from her community were doing anything against it. So, she decided to single-handedly take up the task by herself.
Armed with sticks, Jamuna went after the woodcutters. Within a few years, many women from the neighbourhood also joined. They started patrolling the forests, carrying arrows, bows, sticks to fight the mafia and to protect the 50-hectare forest around the village.
Now with over 60 active women members, the Forest Safety Committee she founded supervise the jungle in the morning, afternoon and evening, in three shifts. Often when the Mafia tries to set fire to the forest in the darkness, they also pay visits at night.
Her efforts have led to great results. The whole community calls her “Lady Tarzan” because of her courage, and supports her in the initiatives. Despite facing death threats from timber mafia and even her village men, she did not stop her efforts in protecting the forests from getting destroyed.
Over the last 20 years, she has saved over 50 acres of forest across 300 villages in Jharkhand. The Jharkhand Armed Police works with her in protecting the forests. Considering her initiatives, the forest department has adopted the Mathurgham village, where it now provides water supply and school facilities.
Taking inspiration from Tudu, the village women now consider trees as their brothers. They plant 18 trees when a girl is born, and 10 trees when a girl gets married in the village.
Click the link https://fb.watch/6DPjXqRTGC/ for listening the story in audio visual form.
We at Rameswaram also would like to emulate the example of Smt.Jamuna Tudu by increasing the green cover as a carbon sink in the coming years.
This month’s newsletter has the following highlights:
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Dr. Sanjay Banerji in his blog wants the role of Nature as Stakeholder in the development paradigm.
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Shri.Rangarajan, Chennai writes about a rare book – ‘Dhevaiula’ on Ramanathaswami.
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Regular Solid waste management work by - Hand in Hand Inclusive Development Services, Chennai.
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Dr.A.Abirami, Programme Officer of C.P.R. Environmental Educational Center writes about the herbal plant – Adhatoda .
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In Social capital our service to the community during the 2nd wave of the pandemic continued by way of distribution of Kaphasura Kudineer, Nilavembu Kasayam to villagers and online yoga class for the elders to increase their Innate Immunity and finally 'Green Rameswaram newsletter’ by the students and for the students of Rameswaram.
Click here for this month’s newsletter.
With best wishes,
Editorial Team
Green Rameswaram Project
Mahabeer Dharmasala
Rameswaram - 623526
Tamilnadu.
Ph: 04573 - 222296(office)
E-mail:[email protected]
Web: www.greenrameswaram.org
