Basanti Devi

Basanti Devi (born 1958) is an Indian environmentalist known for her efforts in preserving trees and revitalizing watersheds in Uttarakhand. She was honored with the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian award for women in India, in 2016, and the Padma Shri in 2022 for her contributions to social work and environmental conservation.

Early life Devi was born in 1958 in Uttarakhand, India. She arrived at the ashram in 1980 after becoming a widow at a young age; she had been married at twelve and lost her husband as a teenager. One of her key concerns was the Kosi River, a vital resource in Uttarakhand that also influences flooding in Bihar, affecting vast areas of land and millions of people. After reading an article predicting the river’s demise within a decade due to deforestation, she mobilized local women, emphasizing that the forest and river were their heritage and urging them to consider the consequences of its loss.

Devi negotiated with villagers and timber companies, securing an agreement to halt the cutting of new trees. Villagers committed to using only old wood for fuel. In 2022, she was conferred the Padma Shri, recognizing her lifelong dedication to environmental conservation and social work.