Manipur's little Valentina: Government cut her Gulmohar trees, now bows down to her

NEW DELHI: Elangbam Valentina Devi, a nine-year-old resident of Hiyanglam Makha Leikai in Kakching district of Manipur, has become the "Brand Ambassador" for "Chief Minister's Green Manipur Mission".
On August 3, a video of Valentina crying and expressing her grief over axing of two Gulmohar trees, which she planted four years ago when she was in Class I, stormed social media. Valentina now is a Class V student of Amutombi Devine Life English school in Wabagai.
Valentina with her parents
Valentina is the daughter of Elangbam Premkumar and Elangbam Shaya. The video was filmed by her uncle who uploaded it on Facebook. Within a few hours of uploading the video, it went viral in the state. The love for trees and tears rolling down her cheeks conquered the hearts of thousands of people on the internet. Netizens splurged her with their support and love in the comment section of the video.
On August 7, chief minister N Biren Singh took to Facebook and Twitter to officially declare Valentina as the state government's “Brand Ambassador” for “CM’s Green Manipur Mission”.


"My father brought 20 trees four years ago when I was in Class I. I planted 20 trees of which 18 couldn't survive and only two lived to grow up with me along Maramba Maril river. I loved them so much and admired them as my own brothers. That is why upon returning back from school when I saw that my trees had been chopped down, I felt heartbroken. The sight of my fallen trees on the ground hurt a lot and I decided to plant 20 more trees," she added.
Valintina aspires to become a forest officer as "hill tops have gone bald due to massive deforestation". She also urges people worldwide to plant 20 trees if they cut one.
Valentina with her uncle Elangbam Monen who shot her video
Her uncle Elangbam Monen Kumar, a CRPF personnel, who shot the video, said, "When I witnessed Valentina crying her heart out after she saw her fallen trees which were sawed by government officials for road expansion project, I took out my mobile phone and started filming her and uploaded it on Facebook. Many supporters and well-wishers including forest officers, police officers, local people visited with tree saplings as a token of love."
Valentina with her friend
According to directives issued by the chief minister's office, all official tree plantation activities would be taken up recognising Valentina's immense love and exemplary affection for trees to generate mass awareness on conservation of environment.
Local police officials felicitating Valentina for her green efforts
Kakching district superintendent of police Yengkhon Victoria Devi, Hiyanglam police station officer in-charge TH Damu along with many other officials planted a variety of saplings with Valentina on the evening of August 3. Munal Singh, Chandel soil and conservation officer, Green Hiyanglam Kendra campaign and Valentina's school teachers also encouraged her and distributed plants at an interaction programme held at Amutombi Devine English school.
Valentina with Maibam Surchandra Meitei, social worker(C),Munal Singh, soil and conservation officer
Many plantation programmes have been organised in the state after the video went viral in Valentina's presence. A mass tree plantation programme was organised on August 10 at Kangla Fort by the state government.
Valentina planting a sapling on the hilltop