Simulia: He works as a teacher in a school. He is, however, an environmentalist by passion. He has devoted 33 years of his life to the cause of a healthier and more sustainable environment. He has planted around 35,000 plants throughout this time.
Meet this green crusader. He is Kanhu Charan Singh, a resident of Sanamaitapur-Mahantipokhari area of Maitapur panchayat under Simulia block in Balasore district.
Working as a headmaster at Government Unnita Ucha Prathamika Vidyalaya in Ishwarpur panchayat, Kanhu believes a protected environment is the key to healthy life on the earth. This belief keeps Kanhu going.
Already worked at four schools in Simulia and Khaira blocks, Kanhu has been planting trees for last 33 years. Most of the tress along the roads, by the sides of canal bund, inside schools’ premises and Maitapur government hospital premises are planted by Kanhu.
He says he has so far planted over 10,000 fruit bearing trees, flower trees and 25,000 palm trees in different areas of Bhadrak and Balasore districts.
Besides planting trees himself, he advises his students to plant at least five trees each. He pays visit to the places where his students have planted trees and take steps to protect them. Every month, he spends Rs 2,500 from his own pocket to save the plants and environment.
He says teachers teach students how to save the environment and the earth. But this will be of little impact on them. To inculcate the responsibility of saving nature, their practical involvement is must.
When asked why he has planted so many palm trees, he says these trees help lessen the impact of lightning.
He is also known as a social worker. He has an organization named ‘Omkar Dibyaseva Samiti’. At present, the organization has 17 dedicated members and they are carrying out all sorts of activities starting from planting trees to organising blood donation camps. Kanhu himself has donated blood 38 times.
He is also the block secretary of MONA, an anti-liquor drive in Balasore district. Besides this, he is the district general secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bhadrak district and also member of Rudrashram Goshala in Maitapur and Khadigadia Bhagabat Ashram.
Since he himself belongs to tribal community; he is working relentlessly to wean away tribal people and others as well from the habit of liquor consumption.
Besides being an environmentalist and a social worker, he is also good at acting. As a theatre artiste, he has been felicitated at many festivals. In the year 2106 when he was a teacher at Nuasahi School, he was awarded by Khaira block education department as well as the school, recognizing his excellent work in the field of environment.
PNN