Child scientist’s eco-camp tracking on Indo-Bhutan jungles

In an attempt to create awareness to conserve flora and fauna of Assam and to make science popular among children of the rural villages a unique programme of eco-camp cum tracking for 30 child scientists of Udalguri district was organized at Jalimukh ( 260 55’10” E and 91o53’04” N; elevation 370m above sea level) on Indo-Bhutan international border on January 9,2010.Udalguri district administration organized the programme in association with Divisional Forest office,(Dhansiri Division),Udalguri;37 BN SSB and Aryabhatta Science Centre district coordinator. Five students accompanied by a guide teacher from each of the six developmental blocks of the district namely-Kalaigaon, Khoirabari, Bhergaon,Udalguri,Rowta and Mazbat took part in the eco-camp cum tracking It needs mention that the students had been selected on the basis of their performance in the block level science competitions held in the month of November 2009.

A simple inaugural ceremony was held at Nonai Range Forest office in Khalingduar reserve Forest at 9.30 am It had been an excellent work done by the organizers for which children of all the six development blocks could arrive and depart home safe. District Aryabhatta Science Centre coordinator Jayanta Das in his welcome speech explained about the eco-camp cum tracking programme saying that such events would boost the morale of the children of the villages and would also motivate them to work for the conservation of nature and wild life. He thanked officers of Udalguri district administration, Divisional Forest Office, Dhansiri Division,Udalguri; 37 BN SSB and 315 Field regiment (Kargil) for sharing the day with the child scientists.Dr.SS Meenakshi Sundaram,DC,Udalguri in his inaugural speech thanked the child scientists for taking interest in science technology and conservation of nature and wild life. He said that district administration of Udalguri would arrange more such events for the children so as to create scientific temperament in them. Bankim Sarma,DFO, Dhansiri division, Udalguri also addressed the child scientists and the guides explaining the need for conservation of ecology.According to him plantation of more and more trees would only save thousands of species from micro organism to bigger animals. He gave in details of the Khalingduar Reserve Forest and its flora and fauna.

30 child scientists both boys and girls accompanied by the heads of the district administration, forest department, 37 BN SSB, 315 FD Regiment (Kargil),media persons and other dignitaries walked to Jalimukh the abode of Hornbills, situated well inside Bhutan. Tracking through the deep jungles far away from human habitation had been a never before experience for all the participants.A community feast was arranged for the participants on the bed of dry Nonai river at 2 pm followed by a thank giving ceremony where child scientists felicitated Dr. SS Meenekshi Sundaram,DC,Udalguri;Bankim Sarma,DFO, Udalguri; Indra Kalita SDO (S) Udalguri; Anthony Tamni, Commanding Officer,37 BN SSB and Col.Yogesh Choudhuri ,Commanding Officer,315 FD Regiment with a gamocha for arranging the eco-camp cum tracking for them.The closing ceremony was anchored by senior journalist and Hony. Wild life Warden Bhargab Kumar Das.DN Hazarika ,Circle Officer Tangla;Pranjal Das,Circle officer ,Mazbat; NB Wari,District Election Officer, Udalguri and journalist cum conservation activist Debanga Mahaliya also took part in the programme.