Andhra Pradesh
Once called “crazy” for collecting garbage in the Nallamala forest, Komera Ankarao, affectionately known as Jaji, is now being hailed as a hero of environmental conservation in Andhra Pradesh.
Nallamala forest, the largest green stretch across the Telugu states, has been battling a silent enemy—plastic waste. Animals have fallen sick, ecosystems disturbed, and yet no significant government intervention was visible. Amid this crisis, Jaji, a humble man with two postgraduate degrees through distance education, took it upon himself to clean the forest—one plastic bag at a time.
Five days a week, Jaji rides into the forest on his two-wheeler. He picks up discarded plastic, places it into bags, and hands it over to garbage collectors. But his efforts don’t stop there. During the monsoon, Jaji scatters seeds along the roadside and returns periodically to see if they’ve sprouted. If they do, he nurtures them with protective care. Over the years, he has created mini-forests along the roads through Jaji village, showing tangible results that government campaigns with crores of rupees failed to achieve.
In recognition of his green crusade, the Andhra Pradesh government has appointed Jaji as a forest conservation advisor. He continues his work without pause—cleaning, educating, and planting. Jaji has also authored a book titled Nature School, which is being used to educate children in over 5,000 schools about environmental responsibility.
The Week magazine even featured a special article on Jaji, praising his relentless dedication to nature.
From being laughed at to becoming a beacon of hope, Jaji’s journey is a testament to the power of individual action. His story is not just about garbage collection—it’s about sowing seeds of change, both literally and figuratively.
