By Felix Anthony
Miao, March 6, 2020: Around 150 students from six schools in Arunachal Pradesh on March 6 drew more than 3,000 paintings of butterfly on stones in one hour in their bid to enter the Indian Book of Records.
The students aged between five and 15 from Miao sub-division of the northeastern Indian state’s Changlang district painted on pebbles collected from the local Noa-Dihing River during Namdapha Butterfly Meet 2020.
The meet is taking place at Miao, a town in Arunachal Pradesh’s eastern region.
Minom Pertin, the chief organizer of the event, said it has multi-pronged objectives. “With this event, we want to spread awareness on the importance of butterflies among the student community, protect the environment, promote eco-tourism scope of Miao sub-division, highlight the bio-diverse features of Namdaha National Park and improve the economic condition of the locals,” he added.
The students came belonged to Light of the World School, Miao, Auxiliam School Namphai II, Theophilus School Namphai II, Tibetan School Miao, Sports Academy School, Miao and Newman School, Neotan.
The main resource person for the record making attempt, Adam Sumnyan, said that he was surprised at the number of students turned out.
“We started spreading awareness on environment protection by painting the walls around Miao Township with only three volunteers. To see such a big gathering of students today for the same cause is an encouraging sign,” he added.
Opening the meet, Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao said, “The butterfly meet and the stone painting events will not only spread awareness among the students but it will also highlight the tourism scope of the region.”
The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Miao sub-division wants Miao declared as the butterfly capital of India because of the presence of a wide variety of butterfly species in the region. He also proposed to establish a butterfly park in every school in the district.
Sister Monica, the principal of Auxiliam School, Namphai II, said the event goes well with the various green activities of her school. “Our School has declared the year 2020 as the Year of Environment Protection to encourage students to engage in green initiatives,” she told Matters India.
The three-day event, which has adopted a no plastic policy with plates and cups made of bamboos, has brought together 60 butterfly enthusiasts from 12 states of India.
The third edition of Butterfly Meet is organized by the Society for Education and Environmental Development, sponsored by the Department of Tourism of the Arunachal Pradesh government in collaboration with Namdapha National Park and Miao Explorers and supported by Dapha Valley Tours and Travels, Miao.