Veteran green crusader Daripalli Ramaiah’s unique social forestry initiatives that won him the country’s fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri earlier this year, may find their way into the social studies textbook of Class VI in the State in the next academic year.
‘Vanajeevi’, as he is fondly called by the villagers of Reddypalli in Khammam rural mandal from where he hails, Mr Ramaiah is well-known for his dedicated efforts to plant and nurture saplings.
His relentless afforestation efforts involving his wife and several villagers spanning several years helped expand the green cover in Khammam rural mandal to a significant extent.
Mr Ramaiah had recently received a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi through which the latter sought the support of the veteran green crusader for the Swachh Bharat mission. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is mulling to include the life history of Mr Ramaiah in the Class VI social studies textbook, sources said.
A team led by the SCERT textbook writer U Anand Kumar met Mr Ramaiah at his native village on Saturday. The SCERT is considering a proposal to include the life history of Mr Ramaiah as part of a lesson on the State government’s flagship afforestation programme “Haritha Haram” in the social studies textbook of Class VI, Mr Anand told The Hindu , when contacted.
We have gathered information about Mr Ramaiah’s spirited efforts to espouse the cause of environment, he said, adding that his unique green initiatives will serve as a source of inspiration for schoolchildren.
