Guwahati: Since the Air Gun Surrender Abhiyan campaign’s debut on March 17, 2021, residents of all communities in Arunachal Pradesh have welcomed it and are taking part in it to surrender their guns which they would otherwise use for hunting, in an effort to stop the extinction of endangered species.
Notably, on December 8 during the BASCON 5.0 event conducted in the Leparada district, about 30 air guns, 1 SBBL, and 1 DBBL were turned in. As a result, about 2400 airguns were turned in by the residents of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Leparada district’s residents were praised by the CM Pema Khandu who also urged them to stop illegal hunting.
It should be noted that Arunachal Pradesh is made up of around 83,743 square kilometers and 80% of that area is covered in forests which are home to more than 500 different types of flora and wildlife.
This includes a number of distinct, endangered, invasive, and native species that are only present in the dense forests of Arunachal Pradesh. But recently, there have been fewer animals and birds in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh as a result of hunting and unlawful poaching. The Government of Arunachal Pradesh’s Department of Forest and Environment has created the “Airgun Surrender Abhiyan” to address the growing problem of a falling wildlife population and to prevent the extinction of species.
The vibrant Mama Natung, the Arunachal Pradesh Minister of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change drove the revolutionary Airgun Surrender Abhiyan.
Since the campaign’s beginning on March 17, 2021, people from all communities in Arunachal Pradesh have embraced it and are taking part in it to stop the extinction of wildlife species by turning in their hunting-related firearms.
For its remarkable endeavour, the “Airgun Surrender Abhiyan,” the Forest Department of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh earned the “Conservation Award” on November 18, 2021. At the 6th North-East Green Summit 2021, which was held at IIT Silchar, the award was presented to Mama Natung, the minister of environment, forests, and climate change for Arunachal Pradesh, by Union Minister of State Ashwini K Choubey (MoEFCC). Dr Rajdeep Roy and other esteemed leaders at the 6th North-East Green Summit 2021, held at IIT Silchar.
The Arunachal Pradesh government’s successful “Airgun Surrender Abhiyan” initiative and the state’s residents for turning in their air guns to protect wildlife were praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on the 84th episode of his monthly radio show “Mann Ki Baat” on December 26, 2021. For the protection of the rivers, fountains, mountains, and natural resources, Minister Mama Natung asked the elders, young, and GBs to establish rigorous rules and regulations and to take strict punishment against those who break the rules.
Wildlife hunters in the state were urged by Minister Mama Natung to stop using birds and other animals as food instead of joining the government’s “Air Gun Surrender Abhiyan” in protecting them.
“We need to change our mindset of looking at birds and animals only as a source of meat, as hunting isn’t a necessity in today’s date. We also need to understand the important role that wildlife plays in balancing the environment,”
Arunachal Pradesh’s Forest and Environment Department’s ‘Airgun Surrender Abhiyan’ received a huge boost when Puinnyo Apum, a resident of the Lower Dibang Valley region willingly turned up his.22 calibre airgun which was valued Rs 3.5 lakhs.
This is reportedly the most costly rifle that has ever been willingly turned in as part of the campaign by any individual.
With more than 2000 weapons voluntarily surrendered, the “Air gun Surrender Abhiyan” is stoking a new hope for conservation in Arunachal Pradesh where hunting has been a community practise steeped in history and culture.
The Minister of Environment & Forests introduced the initiative on March 17, 2021 in Lumdung village, East Kameng district.
Its purpose is to gradually introduce people to the idea of conservation and is entirely voluntary.
Guns were turned in, and the person received a certificate of appreciation in return.