In view of the ensuing first Nagaland Honey Bee Day to be celebrated on December 5, Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) on November 16 organised a painting competition under the theme, “Save the Honey Bees” at Multi Utility Centre, 6th Mile Dimapur.
A press release by NBHM stated that the event was held as a prelude to the honey bee celebrations with the objective to sensitise young minds on the importance of saving the honey bees and to encourage the student community to be future custodians of honeybees.
In the brief inaugural program, NBHM chairman, Ntsemo Ngullie, exhorted the young students to be ardent bee lovers.
Asserting that saving the honeybees was the need of the hour, Ngullie urged the participants to spread this message.
In his message, team leader NBHM, T. Imtiwapang Aier, expressed gratitude to all the participating students and teachers for making the event a big success.
He said Nagaland was creating history by declaring a day solely dedicated to the honeybees because nowhere in the country was such a day was being observed.
The competition, participated in by 30 students of Class VIII to X from ten schools of Dimapur, was judged by Wapang Ozukum, award winning painter, sculptor, monument designer and specialist in life sketching, and Merimvu Doulo, award winning painter, photographer, logo & landscape & graphics designer.
Apelo Kappo, class X student of Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Dimapur was declared the winner and won a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 along with a citation. Jason Longshibemo Murry, class X student of Maple Tree School, Dimapur and D. Avi Swu class X student of Vision Home Higher Secondary School, Dimapur were declared the second and third runner ups and won Rs. 7000 and Rs. 5000 (along with citations) respectively.
Saumit Dey, class X student of Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, C. Ajila, class X student of Delhi Public School, Dimapur, and Sneha Kumari Gupta, class IX student of S.D Jain Higher Secondary School, Dimapur each received consolation prizes of Rs. 1000 and citations.