Author: Jatindra Dash
Publication: Newkerala.com
Date: December 29, 2005
URL: http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=75515
A blind man has turned a five-kilometre stretch
of barren land near his home in Orissa into lush greenery during the last
12 years. Sounds amazing but it's true.
Srinibas Jena of Bhagipur village in the coastal
district of Cuttack, in eastern India, did not use any magical prowess to
achieve the feat.
Jena lost his eyesight when he was only five
years of age. One day, he heard on radio a programme on the importance of
forests and healthy environment.
"The programme spoke of how one could
be self-reliant by planting trees. That is how the mission started,"
said Jena.
"Initially, I planted a few cashew nut
trees but now there are mango, guava and other fruit bearing trees as well,"
Jena told IANS.
The man, who walks with the help of a stick,
rarely makes a mistake while identifying the trees.
Bhagipur is home to about 1,500 people of
different castes. Jena has become a celebrity among villagers with his tree
plantation and conservation drive.
His 'forest territory' begins from the backyard
of his home and ends at a hill in government land.
"When Jena lost his vision due to illness,
we thought he would be a burden on us and would have to survive by begging.
But he proved us wrong. He is better than many people with eyesight,"
said Jena's farmer-uncle Bagirathi.
Jena watered the saplings and protected the
trees from marauding elephants with the help of his wife Kuni, who married
him to help in his mission.
"He has the amazing power to predict
elephants approaching our plantations," Kuni said.
"Each year, we earn our livelihood selling
fruits from these trees. Sometimes we earn Rs.20,000 and sometimes it even
goes up to Rs.30,000. Whatever we get we are happy," she said.
Remarked Suresh Mishra, an officer of the
wildlife department: "It's great work, something which will inspire people
to follow in Jena's footsteps."
