Sangareddy NGO builds permanent home for Odisha’s ‘Tree Man’ Gunithram Jena

Sangareddy-based NGO RAST has built a permanent home, Prakruthi Nilayam, for Odisha’s ‘Tree Man’ Gunithram Jena, who planted over 1 lakh trees in Jajpur district. The two-room house supports his ongoing environmental efforts with future kitchen and washroom additions.

Sangareddy: Raghu Arikapudi Seva Trust (RAST), a Sangareddy-based NGO, has built a permanent house for Odisha’s ‘Tree Man’ Gunithram Jena (60), who spent four decades planting over one lakh trees across 10 villages in Jajpur district.

A daily wager from Uasahi village, Jena had lived in a dilapidated hut with his wife and three daughters, using most of his income to buy saplings. After learning about his dedication, RAST founder Arikapudi Raghu visited the family in April, offering groceries and promising to build a pucca house.

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With help from Odisha engineer Manoranjan Mahapatra, the NGO constructed a two-room house named Prakruthi Nilayam at a cost of Rs.5 lakh. The housewarming ceremony was held recently. Raghu said he plans to add a kitchen and washroom soon to support Jena’s continued environmental efforts.