Every year, the 5th of June is observed as the World Environment Day (WED), with different themes to promote awareness and protection for the environment. The theme for WED this year is “Biodiversity”. Unlike previous years, WED this year is being observed by maintaining the norms of social distancing. In this regard and basing on the theme, the Kohima Forest Division, under the initiative of Divisional Forest Officer, Rajkumar M. IFS, had invited online competition for paintings, short stories, poems and posters for school children whereas painting and articles were opened to all. Amid COVID-19 pandemic and due to the lockdown, the online competition has reached out to over 5000 students, parents and teachers across the State with over 1000 entries. The entries also witnessed participation from other States. Perhaps, this is for the first time that the WED is being celebrated with an innovative approach.

In the painting competition (Class II-IV) Imlimenla, Class 3 from Government Middle School, Chungliyimsen Mokokchung, won the first prize followed by Sastika Paul, class 4 of Lewis Academy, Dimapur and Moasen, Class 3 of Eden Academy Mokokchung respectively. In the short story category, Sentimenla a Class 7 student of Government High School, Khar, Mokokchung won the first prize, while second prize went to Imlijungla S. Aier, Class 7 from Livingstone Foundation International, Dimapur and Keleno Thorie a class 7 student of Trinity School, Kohima bagged the third position. In the poems category, Toli Shohe, Class 10 of Mt. Sinai School, Kohima won the first prize, while the second and third prize went to Kikainla, Class 8 of Yajen Aier Government High School, Mopungchuket and Sochumlo Suki Ezung Class 8 of G.Rio School, Kohima respectively. For the poster category, Beteu Letro Class 12 of Mezhur Higher Secondary, Kohima won the first prize, while Vimenu Viswentso, Class 12 of Holy Child Higher Secondary School bagged the second prize and Shingmei T. Phom, Class 12 from Government Higher Secondary School, Longleng won the third prize.

In the open category, for painting competition, Kelevino Mekro from Kohima won the first prize, while Kivihito Kinimi from Kohima and Supolepden Kichu from Kohima received the second and third prizes respectively. In the article category, Dr. Vituotsolie Kiso from Kohima won the first prize for his article titled ‘The Myth of Giant Sequoia Tree”, Naresh Sharma from Arunachal Pradesh won the second prize for his article titled “The Ghost Orchid” while Eyingbemo Odyuo from Wokha, with his article on “The Perils of human activity on biodiversity” bagged him the third prize. All the entries for different categories were judged by juries from the Division as well as by Rita Krocha, an eminent journalist and a writer. All the winners were awarded with cash and citations.

(DIPR)