Taking a cue from Arunachal Pradesh, where the ‘Airgun Surrender Abhiyan’ has started delivering results with over 2,000 weapons given up voluntarily since its launch in March, the Centre has decided to roll out similar drive across the country with the help of retired forest workers and representatives of social organisations for wildlife conservation. Urging people not to hunt animals and birds, Union Minister of State for Environment Ashwini Kumar Choubey said that retired forest workers, representatives of social organisations among others will be roped in for the ‘air gun surrender campaign’ to be launched soon across the country.
He described Arunachal Government’s campaign as an important initiative to save animals and birds from poaching and for their conservation. He said that it is giving very positive results and said that it will be started across the country and States will also be requested for this. The Minister was speaking at an event in Itanagar a few days ago where some people from Arunachal Pradesh surrendered their air guns in front of the Union Minister. Hunting of wild animals is illegal in India though it is part of the culture of many tribal communities in the country.
Andhra Pradesh environment and forests minister Mama Natung, who masterminded the initiative, said “We want to raise awareness about conservation. Arunachal covers an area of 83,743 sq km, out of which 80% is covered with forests where we have some 500 species of birds and animals, perhaps many more undiscovered. If we keep killing them, our forests will disappear,” Natung said.
Choubey agreed and said, air guns do not require any license. “In such a situation, many people in our country hunt birds through air guns in every district and village. Due to this, the number of many birds is rapidly decreasing,” he said.
The programme was launched on March 17 at Lumdung village in East Kameng district where 46 air guns were surrendered. In return, the person got a certificate of appreciation.