Ms. Basanti Devi, Padma shri-award (2022) winning environmentalist from Pithoragarh (Uttrakhand) known for her contribution towards revitalizing the Kosi river.
She launched her campaign in June 2003, when the Kosi registered its lowest summer flow near Almora.
She started by educating village women not to cut trees for firewood.
She formed 200 women’s groups called ‘Mahila Mangal Dal’ that pledged to save the river by using only dead wood, planting lakhs of broad-leaved Oka trees, stopping hotels and resorts from siphoning off water, and preventing and putting out forest fires.
The group’s efforts started resulting in surplus water in the once almost dry area of the Kosi watershed region.
