Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentioning the State’s wildlife conservation initiative – the “Arunachal Pradesh Airgun Surrender Abhiyan” in his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, on Sunday.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Khandu wrote: “PM Narendra Modi Ji mentioning about Air Gun Surrender Abhiyan initiated by Govt of Arunachal in today’s #MannKiBaat means a lot for the people of the State. A big encouragement towards Arunachal’s conservation effort. Thank you, PM.”
Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji mentioning about #AirGunSurrender abhiyan initiated by Govt of Arunachal in today’s #MannKiBaat means a lot for the people of the State. A big encouragement towards Arunachal’s conservation effort. Thank you PM. @PMOIndia @moefcc @NatungMama pic.twitter.com/O1OGxgQVyL
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) December 26, 2021
In this campaign, people are voluntarily surrendering their airguns so that the indiscriminate hunting of birds can be stopped in Arunachal Pradesh.
“Friends, Arunachal Pradesh is home to more than 500 species of birds. These include some indigenous species, which are not found anywhere else in the world. But gradually, now the number of birds in the forests has started declining and this airgun surrender campaign is going on now to rectify this very situation.
“During the past few months, from the hills to the plains, from one community to the other, people everywhere in the state welcomed it with open arms. The people of Arunachal have voluntarily surrendered more than 1600 airguns. I commend and congratulate the people of Arunachal for this,” Modi said in his address.