Thu Jan 23 19:53:45 IST 2025: ## Kerala Forest Department Announces Vanamithra Award Winners
**Thiruvananthapuram, January 24, 2025** – The Kerala Forest Department announced the winners of the prestigious Vanamithra Awards for 2024-25 on Thursday. The awards, presented to individuals, institutions, and organizations for their contributions to biodiversity conservation, were revealed at a press conference by Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran.
Each recipient will receive a cash prize of ₹25,000 and a citation. This year’s winners include Shaju V. (Thiruvananthapuram), S. Saraswathy Amma (Kollam), the Principal of SAS SNDP Yogam College, Konni (Pathanamthitta), and several others from districts across Kerala. A full list of winners is available in the original article.
In addition to the awards, the department also announced financial assistance for the conservation of 68 sacred groves (kaavu). The department will provide ₹25,000 per grove or 10% of the approved project cost (whichever is less) as a first installment. Projects costing ₹25,000 or less will receive full funding upon submission of necessary documentation.
First Piper 