Timika and her husband Baikal Chikkaiah, a childless couple of Helical village in Karnataka, decided to adopt children.

But the children they chose to rear were 284 banyan trees along a 3km stretch of what is now National Highway 48 in Karnataka.

The trees filled up a void in their lives. And just recently, Timika received the National Citizens Award (for social forestry) from the Prime Minister.

Timika and her husband Baikal Chikkaiah, a childless couple of Helical village in Karnataka, decided to adopt children.

But the children they chose to rear were 284 banyan trees along a 3km stretch of what is now National Highway 48 in Karnataka.

The trees filled up a void in their lives. And just recently, Timika received the National Citizens Award (for social forestry) from the Prime Minister.

Timika and her husband Baikal Chikkaiah, a childless couple of Helical village in Karnataka, decided to adopt children.

But the children they chose to rear were 284 banyan trees along a 3km stretch of what is now National Highway 48 in Karnataka.

The trees filled up a void in their lives. And just recently, Timika received the National Citizens Award (for social forestry) from the Prime Minister.

In the 1950s, it was a Thimmakka, who tired of her neighbour’s jibes directed at her childlessness hit upon the plan.

Why not plant banyan trees and rear them like our children?” she thought. So the lonely couple decided to plant trees.

Thimmakka’s husband was a disabled person, hence she had to work as a labourer every day and did not have the time for much else.

“ But firm in their resolve, they took great pains to dig pits on either side of the road. Their next task was to choose suitable banyan saplings.

They finally planted 300 saplings and put up thorny bushes around, to ensure that the cattle did not eat up the tender trees

In the 1950s, it was a Thimmakka, who tired of her neighbour’s jibes directed at her childlessness hit upon the plan.

Why not plant banyan trees and rear them like our children?” she thought. So the lonely couple decided to plant trees.

Thimmakka’s husband was a disabled person, hence she had to work as a labourer every day and did not have the time for much else.

“ But firm in their resolve, they took great pains to dig pits on either side of the road. Their next task was to choose suitable banyan saplings.

They finally planted 300 saplings and put up thorny bushes around, to ensure that the cattle did not eat up the tender trees