This lesson is about Salu Maradha Thimmakka. Her love towards nature is an inspiration to children to protect nature Salu Marada Thimmakkaa has become a household name in every nook and corner of Karnataka. Our state has honoured her with several awards. She is a model to all in the fields of social service, Thimmakka was born in a small village Kakkenahalli in Gubbi Taluk of Tumakuru district. Her father was Chikkarangaiah and mother Vijayamma.

They had six children. They worked as daily wagers and earned their living. Her husband Bikkala Chikkaiah was an illiterate and worked as a labourer in others field. They worked hard to earn their living. If they were absent from their work for a day then they had to starve the whole day. They did not have any children. Hence they wanted to adopt a child. But their families were against this. In 2005, they adopted Umesh B.S. They involved themselves in religious functions. Every year there used to be a fair in Srirangaswamy temple. This couple provided drinking water to the thirsty animals that came to the fair.

Thimmakka had an idea to plant trees on either side of the road and nurture them. But this was not an easy task. But still she planted saplings between Hulikal to Kuderu a stretch of four kilometres. She protected the saplings from cattlers and nurtured them. She planted 10 saplings in the first year, 15 in the next year and 90 in the third year. She took care of them as her own children. This planting of saplings and nurturing them went on for 10 long year. As the saplings grew into plants and trees they not only provided shade to weary traveller’s but also provided shelter to birds. She planted more than 300 trees. Today the government has taken up the responsibility of protecting them. The government has recognised her hardwork and determination and bestowed her with awards.

Like Nadoja award, Rashtriya Nagarika puraskar, Indira Priyadarshini, Vriksha Mitra, Veera Chakra Karnataka Kalpadalli. Godfrey Phillips bravery award, Vishalakshi Puraskar, Dr. Karanth Puraskar, letter from Women and Child Welfare department and many more awards. She also chaired as the President of National Environment Conference held in 2012. Though she was born in very poor family. she stands as an inspiration to all for her remarkable work even without any help from the government.