Guwahati: The story of conservation of the greater adjutant stork will soon become part of a larger story - that of the Swachh Bharat campaign in Assam.

Wildlife conservationist Purnima Devi Barman on Monday proposed to Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi that the greater adjutant stork be used as a symbol for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

She also submitted an action plan to the governor.

In recognition of her unrelenting efforts towards conservation of the stork, the governor felicitated the environmentalist, popularly known as Hargila Lady, at a function at the Raj Bhavan on Monday. Mukhi said, "Her unstinted efforts augur well for creating a congenial ambience and a friendly and sensible pool of human forces for the conservation of greater adjutant storks."

Terming Purnima as Assam's pride, the governor said her mission was a source of encouragement for others to take conservation efforts to a different level.

He added that the conservation efforts by Purnima's team rendered a fresh lease of life to the adjutant stork. He wished her luck in her endeavours.

Purnima was awarded the Nari Shanti Puraskar by President Ram Nath Kovind recently. Earlier, she won the prestigious Whitley Awards, also known as the Green Oscars.

She and her team are working towards saving the greater adjutant stork from extinction for the last 10 years in villages like Dadara, Pachariya and Singimari in Kamrup District. Assam is the only stronghold of this species at present, with more than 75 per cent of its global population.