In a remarkable display of environmental stewardship, citizens across Arunachal Pradesh have voluntarily surrendered over 2,400 air guns as part of the state’s pioneering ‘Air gun Surrender Abhiyan’. This initiative, aimed at curbing the indiscriminate hunting of birds and wildlife, has not only garnered national acclaim, including praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but also achieved global recognition on a UNESCO platform.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed immense pride in the movement, hailing it as a “shining example of people-driven environmental action.” In a recent social media post, he highlighted how the campaign reflects the “strong ecological values of our people and our shared responsibility to protect biodiversity,” further aligning with the state government’s ‘PEMA 3.0 – Year of Reforms & Growth Framework’ for sustainable development.
The ‘Air gun Surrender Abhiyan’ kicked off in March 2021 at Lumdung village in East Kameng district, witnessing 46 air guns being surrendered at its inaugural event. Since then, the campaign, strongly supported by the Environment and Forest Department and spearheaded by former minister Mama Natung, has gained significant momentum, evolving into a widespread mass movement. It saw thousands not only give up their air guns but also licensed firearms and power chainsaw machines, often used for illegal logging.
Officials report that the positive impact of the campaign is already evident, with increased bird sightings and a noticeable revival of local wildlife populations across many districts. The initiative’s success lies in its community-oriented approach, seamlessly blending traditional values with contemporary conservation objectives. Regular awareness camps, rallies, and district-level outreach programmes were meticulously organised in collaboration with local leaders, NGOs, student unions, and forest officials, all emphasising voluntary action and fostering long-term behavioural change rather than coercion.
The campaign’s remarkable achievements were first highlighted nationally when Prime Minister Modi featured it in his “Mann Ki Baat” radio programme in December 2021, lauding it as an inspiring example of citizen-led environmentalism. Its global recognition followed at the UNESCO International Conference on Biosphere Reserves in 2021, where it was showcased as one of India’s most promising and replicable conservation models, cementing Arunachal Pradesh’s place on the global map of environmental conservation.
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