Well-known teacher-turned environmentalist and founder of the Aryabhatta Foundation Sudhir Kumar Rout has received appreciation of people from across the country for his contributions in the field of environment and climatic change in the region.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in his tweet message said, “Sudhirjee is actively engaged in making people aware of the benefits of planting trees and the importance of the environmental balance.
His efforts and commitments for environment conservation are commendable and inspiring. More power to green champions like him!” The sexagenarian green activist Rout has been undertaking a solo 10-km foot march in Brahmapur every day to create awareness about the need for environmental conservation. Notwithstanding the Covid-induced lockdown and shutdown, every morning, he holds the silent march carrying placards espousing the cause of his Padayatra. Rout with his consistent efforts spanning over 14 years has covered 10 bald hills with vegetation.
Rout’s daily foot march aims to spread awareness among the people to save Mother Earth, which is possible by massive plantations, saving water bodies from pollution and getting rid of single-use plastics. Rout and other members of Aryabhatta Foundation have planted thousands of trees and turned barren hills into greenery and cleaned ponds in Silk City Brahmapur over past decade.