Mangaluru : A  city based youths collected Rs. 1.78 lakh through donations and handed over the amount to noted environmentalist Salumarada Thimmakka here on Monday.

They had launched a campaign to collect donations from people to give to Ms Thimmakka to take care of her healthcare needs. The centenarian, Ms Thimmakka, has been ill for some time and has been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Bengaluru.

Ms. Thimmakka, who hails from Hulikal in Magadi taluk of Ramanagara district, has planted 284 banyan trees in a four-km stretch from Hulikal to Kudur. She has got nearly 41 national and international-level awards for her environmental activities and spreading the message of planting saplings.

Ms. Thimmakka, who came down to Udupi was handed over the cheque of Rs. 1.78 lakh by the head of the group of youth, Avinash Kamath. In addition to this, some donors had credited Rs. 33,000 directly to the account of Ms Thimmakka.

Speaking after receiving the amount, Ms. Thimmakka recalled that she had planted saplings in four-km stretch in her Kudur village working as an agricultural labourer. “The government has not given me any help. I am now totally dependent on donations given by various organisations. I get only Rs. 500 as monthly old age pension from the government,” she said.

Mr. Umesh said it was difficult for both Ms. Thimmakka and him to meet their ends with just Rs. 500 a month. The government spends a large amount of money on cricket and its players. “Though Ms. Thimmakka has rendered yeoman service by planting a large number of trees and protecting the environment, the government is not coming to her help when she needs it,” he said.

Mr. Kamath said it was incumbent on the part of the government to help people such as Thimmakka who had contributed a lot for environment protection. Gururaj Sanil, snake catcher and a member of the group, said that besides raising donations for Ms. Thimmakka, the intention of the campaign to help was also to create environmental awareness among the people.

Later, Ms. Thimmakka planted a sapling near the U.S. Nayak Memorial Hall to mark her visit to Udupi.