Aluva: At a time when environmental concerns are escalating across the country, 76-year-old social worker and environmentalist Sreeman Narayanan from Muppathadam in Aluva is quietly making a difference through sustained grassroots efforts rooted in Gandhian principles.
Known locally as a “one-man army,” Narayanan has been actively engaged in conservation activities for decades, using his own resources to support various initiatives. His work received national attention when Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged his efforts in the radio programme Mann Ki Baat in March 2022.
One of his most impactful initiatives, “Jeevajalathinu Oru Mannpaathram” (An Earthen Pot for Life-Saving Water), began after he witnessed a bird die from dehydration. Since then, he has distributed over 1.6 lakh clay pots to households and public spaces to provide water for birds during the summer months.
Narayanan has also played a significant role in promoting afforestation through the Vrikshayaknja programme, under which he has planted and distributed more than two lakh saplings, particularly in the Ernakulam region.
A firm believer in the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, he runs the initiative “Ente Gramam Gandhijiyilude” to spread messages of simplicity and non-violence. As part of this effort, he has distributed thousands of copies of Gandhi’s autobiography.
In addition, Narayanan has been working towards reducing plastic use in his locality by distributing cloth bags and promoting a plastic-free lifestyle.
Apart from his environmental work, he is also a writer and a recipient of the Kerala State Institute for Children’s Literature Award (2016). Over the years, he has supported his initiatives through small-scale businesses, including a hotel and a lottery agency.
Widely respected in the community, Narayanan continues to demonstrate how individual commitment and sustained action can contribute meaningfully to environmental conservation.
