73-year old devotes 2 decades to green mission
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, July 14 2025: For over 23 years, 73-year-old Hijam Memma Devi of Wangjing Hodamba Maning Leikai in Thoubal district has dedicated her self to planting fruit-bearing trees and other species in various parts of the state, driven by a single mission - to protect the environment through her small yet noble efforts.

At an age when many might choose solace in retirement, Memma continues to work quietly yet passionately towards a greener Manipur.

Driven by a deep sense of environmental responsibility, she has planted thousands of trees since 2000, many of them rare and medicinal species that are gradually vanishing from the state's landscape.

"Fruit-bearing and flowering trees are disappearing.

If we don't take the initiative to save them, who will?" she questioned during an exclusive interview with this daily.

Memma began her journey of environmental activism after losing her husband.

Left alone in a bare, treeless environment, she found purpose in restoring greenery around her.

In 2002, she started nurturing saplings, mostly of indigenous species, with care before planting them or distributing them free of cost to organisations and individuals.

To date, she has given away more than 10,000 saplings, refusing any payment in return.

"My aim is not to make money but to see them grow tall," she affirmed.

"Let us plant more trees and not destroy their fruits.

Let us not depend on others but strive to be self-sufficient in saving the environment" .

Despite her age and humble living conditions in a small tin-roofed hut alone, Memma remains undeterred and her message is loud and clear - 'environmental protection is everyone's responsibility, and even the smallest efforts, when consistent, can make a lasting impact' .

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