Manali: Women like Sunita are at the forefront of a vital grassroots movement to regenerate soil and restore the planet’s green cover. From local visionaries turning desolate terrain into lush sanctuaries to global experts advocating for sustainable agriculture, women’s hands-on connection with the earth is driving critical ecological change.
Across the state, rural and tribal women are spearheading this transformation—turning barren lands into thriving ecosystems, preventing soil erosion, and recharging depleting groundwater reserves.
One Woman’s Decades-Long Mission
At the heart of this movement is Sunita, a resilient 58-year-old woman who has dedicated decades of her life to a singular mission: bringing life back to empty, degraded land.
Originally from Tandi village in the Lahaul region, Sunita single-handedly transformed a barren, eroding landscape into a flourishing green haven by planting thousands of flowers and organic plants. Her tireless efforts have successfully halted severe land degradation in her community. Today, while continuing her environmental work, she also runs a welcoming homestay in Manali.
Community-Led Conservation
Sunita is not alone in her environmental crusade. In Manali, women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are scaling up these efforts by establishing local plant nurseries. These nurseries play a crucial role in:
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Restoring the region’s green cover
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Stabilizing fragile mountain soil
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Recharging vital local groundwater sources
“Planting vegetation has been my passion since childhood,” Sunita shared in an interview with The Hill Post. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s environmental visions, she expressed a fierce determination to leave behind a healthier, greener, and more sustainable motherland for future generations.
Sanjay Dutta, an engineer by qualification but is a journalist by choice.
He has worked for the premier new agency Press Trust of India and leading English daily Indian Express.
With more than a decade of experience, he has been highlighting issues related to environment, tourism and other aspects affecting mountain ecology.
Sanjay Dutta lives in a village close to Manali in Kullu valley of Himachal.
