By Felix Anthony
Miao: The diocese of Miao on June 6 launched a campaign to mark the World Environment Day.
At small event held at Christ the Light Minor Seminary, Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao inaugurated the “Mitthi Sona Hai” (Earth is Gold) campaign to make people self-sufficient by encouraging them to cultivate and produce their food.
Celebrating the World Environment Day 2021 with the diocesan minor seminarians, the Salesian prelate said, “The Earth is gold and it has everything for everyone. We only need to till it and discover it.”
The campaign aims at making every parish in the diocese to produce its vegetables and fruits.
Quoting the creation story of the Bible, the bishop said, “God asks us to subdue the earth and not subjugate it. It calls for free and equal coexistence with the nature. We are to be friends to the mother earth and not its master.”
The bishop has entrusted Father Peter Kanjirathamkunnel, the minor seminary administrator, with the task of implementing the campaign in the diocese. He and his team will organize workshops and awareness camps to promote the campaign amdong various groups.
Terming the campaign a great step forward, Father Kanjirathamkunnel said “Every parish and center has huge plots of land lying waste. We need to discover the gold in them by tilling and planting our own foods.”
The campaign was received well by parish youth groups. Nearly 150 young people from Injan village in Changlang district planted 700 fruit plants around the village.
“We are happy to be part of this great initiative of the diocese. We have planted fruit plants today and in the coming days we will make kitchen gardens around our houses,” said Junem Langching, a youth leader.
The campaign will run until the next World Environment Day.
A great initiative towards achieving self-sufficiency in food. Community organic farming may be considered for greater productivity. It is a great opportunity for other dioceses to learn from the Diocese of Miao.