Green crusader Jamuna Tudu will be flying to New Delhi to attend a reception hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind on Independence Day.

Called Lady Tarzan for her unrelenting efforts to save forests from timber mafia, received the invite two days back and will be heading to Delhi via Ranchi on August 14.

She will be accompanied by her husband Man Singh.

The reception is scheduled at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the evening of August 15.

“I am excited to receive the invitation. I am going to Delhi with my husband,” Jamuna, a Padma Shri awardee, said over phone from Kharsawan where she had gone to attend a function.

The 39-year-old tribal environmental activist from Muturkham village in Chakulia block of East Singhbhum said she was looking forward to her second meeting with the President. “I first met the President when I received the Padma Shri award earlier this year. This will be my second meeting with Kovindji,” Jamuna said.

According to her, Van Suraksha Samity, an NGO she heads, was functioning well and touring the jungles to save trees. “Our membership is also steadily increasing and currently stands at over 300. Men are also showing interest in joining us,” Jamuna added.

Van Suraksha Samity members not only tie rakhis on trees but also take up bow and arrow and file police cases against those who fell trees illegally.

Jamuna, a gutsy tribal, has not let threats and attacks get in the way of her job.

“Saving forests is my passion. There’s no place for fear. I’ve also inspired many women to join me in the crusade to save forests, which I think was important because it made an impact on the rural society and got people talking about our cause,” she said.

Jamuna has also started focusing on girl education. She brought a group of college girls from Chakulia for a tour of Jamshedpur five days back.