By Felix Anthony –
Miao: A group of youth from Miao in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, ran a 15 kilometer run to spread awareness on the importance of nature on 23 September 2021.
The run with the theme ‘Run for Nature’ began from Government Higher Secondary School, Namphai and concluded at Government Tourist Lodge, Miao.
A total of 59 youth participated in the 6am run, flagged off by Bunhap Zongsam Yanchang, Zilla Parishad Member (panchayat leader) of Kharsang north block of Changlang district.
Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Sunny Singh IAS, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Miao sub-division, congratulated the organizers for gathering the youth for a noble cause. “You have run for nature today but your expression of love for the nature must not end today. You should rather inculcate this love in your daily life. Keeping the water taps closed, being mindful of putting off the lights when not necessary are our daily expressions of love for nature”, he told the participants.
The participants were mostly school students from Miao, Namphai and Kharsang circles of Changlang district, belonging to the age group between 14 and 20.
The Chief Guest advised the participants to engage in healthy habits. “You are at an age when you can pick up bad habits easily. You must instead use your energy for good cause like today. Reduce your playing time with mobile and engage in outdoor games and sports, which can shape your life and also can provide you with a better future”, he said.
Assistant Field Director of Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Aduk Paron, also advised the youth to keep asking what they can do as an individual and team to the promotion and protection of nature and environment.
Ganwang Wangsa won the First Prize at the marathon and Rakesh Tikhak and Wangtan Wangsa won the second and third prize respectively.
The run was held as part of Fourth Butterfly Meet organized by Society for Education and Environmental Development in collaboration with district administration and Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Miao.
More than 50 butterfly enthusiasts from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh are attending the three-day event, being held at Namdapha National Park, a 1,985 square kilometer protected biodiversity hotspot with more than 1000 floral and about 1,400 faunal species.