Bus conductor Yoganathan

COIMBATORE: A bus conductor from the city, who has planted more than 38,000 trees, has found mention in the CBSE class V General Knowledge textbook as a green crusader. A regular on the Marudhamalai-Gandhipuram number 70 bus, Yoganathan has been working for the Tamil Nadu State Road Transport Corporation (TNSTC) for the last 18 years.

“He is a bus conductor from Tamil Nadu, who has single-handedly planted more than 38,000 trees in 28 years. He has made commendable efforts to save wildlife and spreading awareness about conservation among youth,” the book says.

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A Plus Two pass out, he has been planting saplings for the past 32 years, Yoganathan said. “I am a native of Mayiladuthurai near Nagapattinam. I was amazed by the beauty of the Nilgiris where I worked as a sales representative after finishing school. After witnessing trees being smuggled out, I had even staged a protest against it. Such events ignited the spark in me to work on conserving the environment,” he told TOI.

The crusader in him was nurtured and supported by Tamil Nadu Green Movement ’s Jayachandran. Working at a tea estate in Kodanad, Yoganathan was selected in the TNSTC as a conductor and moved to Coimbatore. However, he did not stop the work to conserve the environment.

While planting trees and saving wildlife is his passion, Yoganathan also believes in spreading the message among the young generation. “I participate in conferences and guest lectures in universities and colleges to engage students about conservation of the environment. I was recently invited to a local arts and science college where I delivered the guest lecture,” he said.

Besides this, the National Service Scheme (NSS) teams of schools and colleges invite him to participate in their activities and apprise them about environmental protection.

