Saalumarada Thimmakka to be discharged on Friday

The environmentalist was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday following pulmonary infection

"Saalumarada" Thimmakka, earned the prefix (which in local parlance means an avenue of trees) for her contribution to the environment by planting 284 banyan trees on either side of the road leading to her village, Hulikal in Bangalore rural district in Karnataka, a southern Indian State. Illiterate Thimmakka and her husband, late Bikkalu Chikkayya, nursed the trees for years bringing water from a distant place. Thimmakka wants to be reborn as a tree.

Environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka, who was admitted to Apollo Hospital on Tuesday, will be discharged on Friday, according to the doctor attending on her.

Ravindra Mehta, senior consultant (Pulmonology), said Ms. Thimmakka was doing much better on Thursday and was fit to be discharged on Friday. She was admitted to the hospital following pulmonary infection.

Ms. Thimakka has planted and nurtured several trees, and participated in afforestation programmes. She is a recipient of numerous awards.

Health Minister U.T. Khader visited her at the hospital on Thursday. He announced that the government will bear her medical expenses. Minister of State for Kannada and Culture Umashree also called on her.