Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Dec  28: "Trees used to be our children. Myself and my husband planted banyan saplings for a length of four km, kept watering them and nursed them into trees. Various organizations, institutions and people whom I do not know have honoured me, and recognized my achievement as a rare feat. But I have not got recognition and help from the government," rued Nadoja Saalumarada Thimmakka.

She was speaking after  initiating 'Nritya Sandhya' programme organized at SVS aided higher primary school, Panemangalore, under the aegis of Sridevi Nrityaradhana Kala Kendra, Puttur.

"Other than old age pension of Rs 500 I get from the government,  I have not got anything else. A boy who came to me 16 years back from somewhere has been looking after me and loving me. For me, he is my son and God," she stated.

Speaking on the occasion, former chairperson of Karnataka State Social Welfare Board, Divyaprabha Chiltadka, said that she will raise the topic of Thimmakka with forest minister, Ramanath Rai. On this occasion, apart from Thimmakka, Bhagawath, Patla Sathish Shetty, and Bharatnatyam Guru, Nayana Satyanarayana, were  felicitated.

Hereditary trustee of Kateel temple, Venkataramana Asranna, and entrepreneur, P Hariindra Pai, spoke on the occasion. Convener of SVS school, Vankatraya Shenoy, presided.