Miao: A group of students from six schools under Miao sub-division of Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh made a first of its kind attempt to enter the India Book of Records with most number of butterfly paintings on stone at the ongoing Namdapha Butterfly Meet 2020 in Miao on Friday.
Around 150 students between the age of five and fifteen from 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, came together to make an attempt to enter the India Book of Records, a reference book published annually in India listing human and natural Indian records, with butterfly painting on pebbles collected from Noa-Dihing River, Miao.
It is not just a record making attempt but the event has multi pronged objectives. With this event, we want spread awareness on the importance of butterflies among the student community to 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, said Minom Pertin, the chief organizer of the event.
The students drew more than 3000 paintings of butterfly on stones in a stipulated time of one hour.
Inaugurating the event Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao Diocese 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 said that Miao should be declared as the Butterfly Capital of India because of the presence of wide variety of butterfly species in the region. He also proposed to establish a butterfly park in every school in the district.
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 said.
Sr. Monica, the Principal of Auxiliam School, Namphai II, said the event goes well with the various green activities organized in the school. “Our School has declared the year 2020 as the Year of Environment Protection to encourage students to engage in green initiatives”, she added.
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 organised by the Society for Education and Environmental Development, sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh in collaboration with Namdapha National Park and Miao Explorers and supported by Dapha Valley Tours and Travels, Miao.