Organic farmer Pappammal dies at the age of 109

M. Pappammal at her field in Thekkampatti near Mettupalayam in Coimbatore.
| Photo Credit: HANDOUT_E_MAIL

Pappammal, a Padma awardee and organic farmer at Thekkampatti in Coimbatore district, passed away on Friday (September 27) at the age of 109.

Pappammal alias Rangammal was born in 1914 to Maruthachala Mudaliar and Velammal in Devalapuram village in the district. Having lost her parents at an early age, her two sisters and she were brought up by her paternal grandmother at Thekkampatti.

According to her family members, she started organic farming on nearly 14 acres at Thekkampatti and reduced it to 2.5 acres over the years.  She received the Padma Shri award in 2021. She was actively attending events till last December.

Pappammal was a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and was a ward member of the Thekkampatti Panchayat in 1959. She was also earlier a councillor in the Karamadai Panchayat Union.

She died of age related illness.