The unknown hero who planted one crore saplings in Telangana

Hyderabad, Feb 25: He is well educated but dedicated to saving nature as he understood the nature’s importance in human life. But he is not famous. He would take a round on his bicycle without inviting any expenses. He would collect the seeds and sow them as and when he would spare time. Without any publicity he would do his work silently. The people of his village are aware of his ‘madness’ and they would call him names. But this man did not care for them and continued with his mission.

He is Daripalli Ramaiah from Telangana. He comes from Khammam district. People of his village only know about his activity and they would lovingly call him “Chetla Ramaiah”. In Telugu language “Chettu” means tree and hence he became “Chetala Ramaiah”.
This Ramaiah not only sows the seeds but also prepare saplings. He secured the support of his municipal council member and selected a canal in Khammam district and planted sapling in a four km stretch on both sides of the canal.

He not just plants the saplings but take care of them till they grow sufficiently. He is always on his bicycle moving around and taking care of his saplings. He looks after them as the mother looks after her children.

Ramaiah planted various trees like Bel, Peepul, Kadamb, Sandle, Neem etc. which have medicinal value also. His village has become totally ‘green’. He received great help and support from his wife in this mission. She helped in especially in extracting the seeds of ‘Teak’ tree.

Everyone wondered as to what makes Ramaiah do all such activity in a dedicated manner. What would he get from this?

Ramaiah says he gets peace and satisfaction. He prepared a slogan “Vriksho Rakshati Rakshitah” that is ‘trees save those who save them’. He obtained some books on tree plantation from the district library and also obtained information about scientific methods of planting saplings. Now he prepares saplings according to that method and distributes them.

He has coined some slogans in Telugu language and painted them on the walls of the village houses in attractive colors. “Plant trees-Save trees-Connect with Nature” are his slogans to create mass awareness about nature preservation.

One he suffered an accident and had major injury to his leg. He was confined to his house for some months but his work did not suffer on that account. He used to prepare saplings in his house. Once, a person gave him Rs 5000 as donation to his work. Ramaiah spent the entire amount in his plantation work. Many of his co-villagers suggested him to sell the trees and earn money. But Ramaiah politely refused saying that he did not plant them for selling. The Mother Nature gives us trees for the benefit of all the people and not any individual. I planted these saplings so that we get fresh and pure air, ample rainfall and unpolluted environment.

Ramaiah said that nature creates trees that are useful to us, gives us best fruits and flowers. It is our duty to protect and preserve the nature. He suggests the people to give your children the seeds of the fruits they eat and ask them to plant them so that they would taste their fruits and the satisfaction they would get would be great, he adds.

Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens so why not make them responsible towards nature when they are young, he suggests. He also suggested the state government to plant Red Sanders trees on government lands and auction them when they grow so that the government can earn lots of money. The state government has accepted his suggestion.

Ramaiah has deep faith in his mission. People are now praising him for his dedication and devotion to preserve nature. In 2017, the Government of India honored him with “Padmashree” award. In addition he received a number of state level awards in recognition of his stupendous work.