9-yr old girl who cried over felled trees made ‘Green Manipur Mission’ ambassador

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Aug. 8 (EMN): A nine-year-old Manipur girl, who cried desperately after two trees she had planted were cut down for developmental works, has been appointed as brand ambassador of the Chief Minister’s Green Manipur Mission.

The appointment of the ambassador for the mission came last evening after a video of her crying went viral on social media after her uncle uploaded the video.

She will remain a brand ambassador for a period of one year and all official tree plantation activities will be taken up recognising her ‘immense love and exemplary affection for trees’ to generate mass awareness on conservation of environment, said Information and Public Relations Director H Balkrishna in the order issued on Wednesday.

She will be involved in various government sponsored plantation programmes including ceremonial tree plantations, VIP involved plantations World Environment Day and Van-Mahotsav, departmental sponsored plantations and other environment protection activities.

Valentina Elangbam, eldest daughter of Premkumar and Saya (34) from Hiyanglam Makha Leikai in Manipur’s Kakching district had planted the two ‘gulmohar’ trees about four years ago near her residence while she was studying in class-I.

But this young girl, who is now a class-V student of Amutombi Divine Life English School in Hiyanglam village, was astounded when she saw the trees she had planted had been felled down while cleaning the bank of a water canal in her locality on August 3.

Soon after the video went viral, many people visited Valentina to console. Members of Unique Wildlife Protection Committee (UWPC), a local body for conserving the environment, even took 20 saplings including her favourite ‘gulmohar’ to plant on the same day the trees were cleared.

Ramesh Elangbam of UWPC when contacted said that they tried to console her with the plants they brought for plantation soon after watching the video. “Finally she agrees and plants few of them,” he added.

“She look happy when the news of her appointment was announced on a local TV network,” he said.

“She cries for felling down two trees which she planted when she was only in class-I. We rushed at her place and tried to console her providing more saplings. Now she will be the state government’s Green Ambassador for CM’s Green Manipur Mission’. Let’s follow her save nature,” Chief Minister N Biren tweeted on Wednesday.

Chief Minister’s Green Manipur Mission which targets to restore greenery across the state was launched on June 22 near Saheibung village in Kangpokpi district.Under the mission, the chief minister’s brainchild, an open gymnasium built at a cost of INR 5 to 6 lakh will be installed in villages willing to give at least five acres of land for development of forests.