Mon Dec 16 16:11:00 UTC 2024: ## Padma Shri Awardee Tulasi Gowda Passes Away at 86
**Karwar, Karnataka:** Tulasi Gowda, a recipient of the Padma Shri award and known for her tireless efforts in afforestation, passed away at her home in Honnalli, Ankola taluk, Uttara Kannada district on [Date]. She was 86 years old. Gowda, a member of the Halakki tribal community, had been suffering from age-related ailments. She is survived by two children and four grandchildren.
Gowda, a former daily wage worker in the forest department, dedicated her life to planting and nurturing saplings. Over the years, she single-handedly planted and maintained lakhs of trees, earning her the title of a “walking encyclopedia of forests.” Despite facing personal hardships, including the loss of her husband at a young age, she continued her work, collecting seeds from endangered species and raising saplings to replenish the forests without seeking any reward. She planted over 30,000 saplings annually.
Her remarkable contribution to environmental conservation was recognized nationally and internationally. In 2021, she was conferred the Padma Shri award by the central government. She was also honored as a Public Hero by Public TV. Her funeral will be held in Honnalli tomorrow according to Halakki tribal customs.
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