(Jenny Thingshung)
EKHON|UKHRUL: In a display of creativity and environmental conservation, Environmental Force at Grass Root Level (ENFOGAL) organized a painting competition dedicated to the Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant at Jessami village of Ukhrul District, Manipur. The event was held in collaboration with Ekhon and Jessami Village Authority on 11th November 2024 at Jessami Higher Secondary School. Patrick Shangh, project director, Enfogal, Dr. Weyepe N Mekrishu, Soreiya Khongreiwo, Principal of Jessami Higher Secondary School, Ayekhwete Wezah, Chairman of Jessami Village Council and other staffs were present at the event.
40 students from four schools of Jessami, including Dainty Kids School, Gems School, JNV and Jessami Higher Secondary School participated at the event held under the theme “Conservation of Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant through Community Engagement”. The creative event was aimed at encouraging young artists to depict the importance of protecting Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant through the power of local community conservation efforts.
“We organized this event to raise awareness about the conservation of Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, a rare and precious species that plays a vital role in our ecosystem. By engaging students and the local community, we aim to foster a sense of responsibility and appreciation for protecting biodiversity. This initiative empowers young minds and strengthens community commitment to safeguarding our natural heritage”, Patrick Shangh, Project Director of ENFOGAL told Ekhon.
Of the 40 students, three winners each from senior and junior category were awarded with cash prizes of Rs 3,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively along with participation certificates for every participant. The winners were selected based on their clarity of concept, theme and creativity of their expression.
In Junior Category, Dzupawulu Wezah of Gems School, Wuzute Wezah of JNV, Jessami and Rakmi Mahak of JNV, Jessami were adjudged as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively while, Echiwelo Lohe of JNV Jessami, Ethunilu Wezah of Jessami Higher Secondary School and Weshilhilu Wezah of JNV, Jessami were adjudged as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively for Senior category.
The participants expressed their enthusiasm and believed that such events will leave lasting impression on their minds on the importance of conserving Mrs. Humes Pheasant.
“It is amazing and exciting to paint our State bird, Nongin (Mrs Hume’s Pheasant). The competition is significant for us to know more about the birds and ecosystem that surrounded us,” noted Ethunilu Wezah, class 11th student of Jessami Higher Secondary School.
Meanwhile, Dr. Weyepe N Mekrishu, the architect of Jessami’s Mrs Hume’s Pheasant Community Reserve who has worked closely with Enfogal in their effort in conserving Mrs. Humes Pheasant in Jessami and beyond shared his thought on the importance of the principal of sustainability practiced by our forefathers where they live in harmony and co-existence with nature. Adding that over the years new dynamics like economic implication, political, social dynamics has come to our system and creating challenges for us. Now our job is how to define the boundary between accepting the new elements in our system that will be useful for us in the future, he mused.
Setting up Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant Dr. Mekrishu said is an opportunity for us as community to come together and reflect back to our age-old traditional practices. He also addressed the need to come up with a controlled measure to ensure that ecological balance is maintained/preserved for the overall wellbeing of the living being.
Enfogal, the sole organization that is working on environmental health in Ukhrul district, have broader commitment to conservation including upcoming projects like Conservation of Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant through Soccer, a Zero Waste Village Project, and Wildlife Monitoring with Camera Traps to showcase Ukhrul district’s rich fauna. They are also working on the ambitious project of establishing a first Mini-waste segregation plant in Manipur.
Two enthusiastic interns, Vengmi Khamrang and Soyirchon HA, who are pursuing bachelor’s in social work from St. Joseph’s College, Ukhrul were also part of the creative event.
