In the district of Seraikela-Kharsawan in Jharkhand, the growth of 3 million trees over 720 hectares of land in 500 villages over the past 34-35 years stands as a testament to the power of one woman’s determination. This woman is Chami Murmu, who received the Padma Shri award from President Droupadi Murmu on April 22, 2024 for her remarkable contributions to social service. Chami Murmu dedicated herself to the mission of planting trees from a young age, sacrificing personal pursuits such as starting her own family. She proudly states, “My family is very large. It consists of 30,000 women and 3 million trees. These women, alongside me, have given meaning to my life.”
Chami Murmu started this movement in 1988 in the village of Bagrasai with 11 female members. They began by planting trees on barren land. Today, more than 30,000 women are part of this mission. Due to her extensive campaign to plant and protect trees, Chami Murmu is affectionately known as the “Lady Tarzan” of her area. Throughout her journey, she has faced and overcome numerous challenges, including confrontations with timber mafias and threats from Naxalites.
A Short Glimps of Her Life
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Ms. Chami Murmu |
| Title | Environmentalist, popularly known as the Lady Tarzan of Jharkhand |
| Date of Birth | 6 November, 1971 |
| Place of Birth | Bhursa, Seraikela district, Jharkhand |
| Early Life |
– Born into a poor family – Started social work about 30 years ago – Formed a team of 10 women to work on local forests and livelihoods |
| Major Initiatives |
– Mobilized women from over 500 villages – Planted Eucalyptus, Sal, Acacia, Neem, and Sheesham trees – Enhanced farmer livelihoods by building watersheds and water harvesting tanks – Rejuvenated wildlife habitats by planting over two million trees |
| Organizations | Former Secretary of Sahayogi Mahila, Bagraisai |
| Community Impact |
– Connected 2800 SHG groups with 10-15 women members each – Reached out to 30,000 women – Facilitated Bank Loans for goat rearing, piggery, poultry farms, and hybrid technical agriculture – Provided free education and hostel facilities to hundreds of poor tribal girls |
| Recognition |
– Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Award by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India – Nari Shakti Puraskar by the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India |
Chami Murmu, a 51-year-old resident of the town of Rajnagar in Seraikela-Kharsawan, shares that her inspiration came from reading about Mother Teresa in her school textbooks. From a young age, she believed that a meaningful life requires a special purpose. She dreamt of becoming like Mother Teresa. However, after passing the 10th grade, her family faced severe hardships. The sudden deaths of her brother and then her father left her as the guardian of her three younger siblings and mother. She had to work as a laborer in others’ fields to support her family. Despite these struggles, she never let go of her childhood dream. She decided not to marry and devoted her life to a singular mission: planting and caring for trees.
To further her cause, she founded an organization that received support from the state government’s social forestry scheme, leading to the establishment of a nursery. She recalls, “After planting over 100,000 saplings, we suffered a major setback in 1996 when local goons destroyed all our saplings. We filed a complaint with the police, and the culprits were arrested. Despite this incident, we were undeterred and continued our work with renewed vigor.”
Chami Murmu’s efforts eventually gained recognition from both state and central governments. In 1996, she was honored with the Indira Gandhi Vriksha Mitra Award, which brought her work into the spotlight. She traveled from village to village, raising awareness among women. The tree-planting campaign gained momentum, with women forming groups to plant saplings on vacant lands, barren fields, and along roads and canals. This movement spread across 500 villages in Seraikela district, resulting in the plantation of 3 million trees over 720 hectares of land in the past 33-34 years. In 2019, the Ministry of Women and Child Development honored her with the Nari Shakti Puraskar.
Chami Murmu’s story is a powerful example of how one individual’s resolve and dedication can lead to significant environmental and social change, creating a lasting impact on communities and the environment.