Public Felicitation & Awareness Program, Chapanala

Members of Green Guard Nature Organization and Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Service Award winner Dulu Bora were felicitated at a public meeting cum awareness program at Chapanala, Nagaon, yesterday evening. The meeting was organized by the Chapanala Pratibha Bikash Gusti, Chapanala Yubak Sangha and Chapanala Bebashai Sanstha at the Bazaar Chariali, Chapanala and attended by over 600 people. After the Welcome Address and Agenda were read out by the President and Secretary of the Organizing Committee, GGNO Secy Gen presented a Audio-Visual show comprising of a PPT of the organization's activities, awards and honors and a video recording of the acceptance speech delivered by Dulu at The Sanctuary Wildlife Service Awards on 5th Dec. at Mumbai. A felicitation of Green Guard members from Guwahati, Sonitpur, Morigaon, Karbi Anglong and Nagaon was followed by an introduction and felicitation of the local volunteers, including women and children of the organization active in the area. The Prog. Secy of Green Guard, Hemanta Sharma, delivered the keynote address on Nature Conservation, with special reference to the role of grassroots communities in protecting the local wildlife habitat. The next program was an emotionally charged affair, with the organizers felicitating Dulu's mother, who was at a loss of words to describe the wondrous achievements of her youngest born. The elders of the Chapanala area inaugurated the Photographic Exhibition and the Signature Campaign, representing the past achievements and future hopes for both Dulu and the Green Guard Nature Organization. After a brief cultural interlude of riveting performances by the local Bihu and Jhumur troupes, the man-of-the-moment was presented on stage. He was honored by over 40 organizations including the forest department, schools, business associations, students unions, women's organizations, clubs, sports committees, political parties and other social groups. The various awards and honors, including the Sanctuary Asia Tiger Defender recognition, the Rotary Young Achiever Award, the Balipara Foundation Conservation Through Innovation Award, the TINA (Tina Abraham-Sanctuary Initiative for Nature Action) grant and the Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award were read out amid thunderous applause. Dulu exhorted the people to take charge of their destiny and reap the benefits of the bounty nature had bestowed on the region; he asked them to actively protect the natural heritage rather than being mute spectators to its rampant destruction by unscrupulous criminals. "If we look at the long term benefits, we can promote sustainable eco-tourism and live in harmony with nature," he pleaded. He raised slogans calling for an end to illegal poaching and logging activities in the area and the crowd enthusiastically responded, and the air reverberated with new hope. The night ended with the rendition of the Assamese National Song 'O Mur Apunaar Desh' by everyone.