Farmer on Padayatra to Bengaluru to ensure Kodagu remains green

Manju Chinnappa and team began walking from Talacauvery to Bengaluru to stress need to save the district’s ecosystem.

ManjuChinnappaKF04oct2015

This farmer has been walking for 11 days to take his fight against environment degradation in Kodagu district. Manju Chinnappa, 37, started his padayatra from Talacauvery on September 18. Chinnappa, a native of Hudikeri, started the movement after severe drought that affected Virajpete this year. A Bcom graduate, Chinnappa says, “Even from my early days, I wanted to work towards the preservation of the culture and tradition of my motherland. Over the years, the district has seen several atrocities on land, deforestation and cultural aggression. The main aim of this walkathon is to bring to the attention of the social and economic problems that Kodagu district faces today. I hope it motivates people to preserve the culture and sanctity of the native people.”

Chinnappa has managed to cover close to 25 kms everyday and en route he is celebrated by the people of that particular village who walk with him for a few kilometres to express their support. On Monday, he reached Mysuru. He also gives awareness talks on how to keep the heritage of the district alive.

A founder of the United Kodava Organisation that was formed in 2011 to focus on preserving the environment and heritage of the place, he says, “We know merely submitting a resolution to the state government might not bring much change. We wanted to make a noise through this padayatra to get the attention of as many people as possible. We hope to reach Bengaluru by October 4 and we want to submit a memorandum to the chief minister regarding our demands.” His plan is to cover a distance of 414 km considering he has taken a route inside Kodagu within the villages to spread his message. After reaching Bengaluru, the final leg will start at 9 am from Jnanabharathi campus (Bangalore University) where the local Kodava population will join him in the walk up to 20 kms that will culminate at the Kodava Samaja in Vasantha Nagar. The local Kodavas will come in their traditional dress to show their support to Chinnappa.
Chinnappa says, “In the name of tourism, several trees are being removed which has harmed the people living in that region. Our main resolution is to put pressure on authorities to stop the conversion of wetland not only in Kodagu but across the state. Many infrastructure plans by the state government have destroyed the ecology of the district completely and we want to draw everybody’s attention to this.”

The Kodava community in the city is all set to welcome Chinnappa. They have also started a Facebook page to update the information of padayatra from time to time.

Children are also taking part
Children are also taking part

Route plan

Talakaveri-Igguthappa Temple-Madikeri-Bayarambada-Virajpet-Gonnikoppa-Anechowkur-Hunsur bypass- Mysuru-Srirangapatna-Mandya-Chennapatna-Bidadi-Jnanabharathi-Kodava Samaj, Bengaluru

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Vandana Kamath, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / September 30th, 2015

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