BHUBANESWAR: Dhaneswar Sahoo, a conservationist from Sohela block of Bargarh district, has given his all in multiple plantation drives. However, due to lack of govt aid, he currently languishes in poverty.
He creates awareness to save environment by distributing saplings and planting numerous trees. A resident of Kermeli Village in Sohela block, he has already walked 4800 kms to create eco-awareness.
Sahoo was initially inspired by Ramchandra Sahu, a teacher of Sohela block who had planted many trees. However, the Gujurat earthquake, Phailin disaster and Bihar floods spurred him to give his all in plantation efforts.
Sahoo had traversed Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh on his way to New Delhi to meet former President Pratibha Patil but failed. During his marathon walk he met around 15,000 people whome he taught about the benefit of planting trees.
Until now Sahoo has managed to plant more than 2000 tress on his own. He has planted hundreds of Tulsi saplings in his village which has stopped deaths caused by Malaria. Currently, seventy-year-old Dhaneswar is touring all the districts on his bicycle to spread awareness on plantation.
Recently, he went to meet officials of the secretariat. However, he was promptly shown the door. Interacting with Orissa Post, Sahoo said, “Despite my efforts, environment officials don’t want to meet me. However, this cannot deter me in my conservation efforts. Nothing makes me more satisfied than spreading awareness on plantation.”
Admired and respected by environmentalists of the state, Sahoo has gained distinctive recognition like Prakruti Mitra from Kamgoan High School, Sabuja Seba Sainik Puraskar from Prakruti Mitra Bana Sanrakhyana Samiti Katapalli. His story reminds us words of Robert Frost who states, “The woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.”
Chaitali Shome, OP