Tale of Chami Murmu a climate warrior who received Padma Shri Award

Chami Murmu, a 52-year-old environmental activist from Saraikela Kharsawan district in Jharkhand, inspired hundreds of women in her region to plant trees in over 500 villages, despite opposition from male villagers.

Recognized as ‘Seraikela’s associate’, 52-year-old Murmu and 3,000 women have actively planted more than 30 lakh trees, marking a significant achievement in environmental protection.

Murmu has launched impactful programs focusing on safe motherhood, anemia, malnutrition, and adolescent girls' education through her NGO, Sahyogi Mahila, leading to far-reaching changes in community health and well-being.

I feel extremely honoured to be getting the award. It gives me an impetus to keep doing what I started in 1988,” she told The Indian Express. She added, "I noticed a lot of empty land in my area and decided to plant trees. The men in my village didn’t like the idea of a woman starting this kind of project. I had disagreements at home and eventually moved to my brother’s house. There, I worked with my brother as a field laborer, earning a living while also contributing to nature".

Who is Chami Murmu?

Chami Murmu, born around 1973, is a renowned Indian environmental activist recognized for her significant contributions to tree planting in India. Hailing from Bagraisai village in the Seraikela Kharsawan district, she has been instrumental in planting 2.5 million trees over a span of 24 years, starting from 1996.

Murmu, often referred to as the ‘Lady Tarzan’ of Jharkhand, is a passionate environmentalist who has made significant contributions to the environment.

Chami faced adversity early in life, losing her father and elder brother. As a result, she became the primary caregiver for her three siblings and her sick mother.

Her path as an environmental activist started in 1988 when she attended a meeting about job opportunities in a village 80 km away from her home. Along with 23 other women from her village, she went to the meeting hoping to learn how a woman can improve her family’s economic situation. She returned home filled with new ideas.

Despite facing challenges from the "mafia" and Naxalites, Murmu persevered in her mission to replace the trees illegally cut down around her village. As the secretary of Sahayogi Mahila Bagraisai, she contributes to an organization that supports her work and proudly claims a membership of 3,000 individuals.

Recognition and Impact

Chami Murmu’s contributions have previously been recognized with the Nari Shakti Award by the President on International Women’s Day, reaffirming her role as a powerful agent of change.

In March 2020, on International Women’s Day, Murmu was one of the twelve recipients of the Nari Shakti Puraskar awards, presented by President Kovind in New Delhi. Later that month, she joined forces with Jamuna Tudu, another environmental activist, to protect Jharkhand’s forests. The duo, often referred to as “the Lady Tarzans” in the press, aimed to synergize their efforts for greater impact.

Murmu’s commendable work has earned her several accolades, including the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Awards in 1996 and the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2019. Her story is a testament to the power of individual action in environmental conservation.

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