BENGALURU/TUMAKURU: Renowned environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka, popularly known as ‘Vrukshamathe’ for planting trees along the roadsides, has passed away at the age of 114 at Apollo Hospital in Jayanagar, Bengaluru on Friday.

She was born on June 30, 1911, in Gubbi taluk of Tumakur district. She loved trees and plants as her own children.

Thimmakka was honoured with the National Citizen Award in 1995, the Indira Priyadarshini ‘Vrukshamathe’ Award in 1997, the Vīrachakra Award, the Padma Shri in 2019, the Rajyotsava Award, the Nadoja Award, and a doctorate from Karnataka Central University in 2020.

She also received the Karnataka Kalpavalli Award in 2000, the Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award in 2006, the Pampapathi Environment Award, the Babasaheb Ambedkar Award, the Vanamathe Award,

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