Tulasi Gowda, a 72-year-old tribal woman was awarded Padma Shri Award

She belongs to Halakki indigenous tribe in Karnataka

She received the award barefoot and dressed in traditional outfit

Tulasi Gowda never received a formal education and grew up in a very poor family

She is called as Encyclopedia of the Forest as she has a knowledge of diverse species of plants and herbs

She worked hard for the protection of the environment

Tulsi Gowda planted over 30,000 saplings and looks after the nurseries of the Forest Department