UKHRUL: The Ukhrul District Working Journalists Association (UDWJA) observed World Environment Day 2026 today at the Phungyo Baptist Church (PBC) Quasquicentennial Hall. Held under the global campaign “Now For Climate,” the event brought together a diverse gathering of administrative officials, church leaders, environmentalists, and media personnel to foster collective responsibility toward nature.
The high-profile event was organized in active coordination with the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change (Government of Manipur), the District Administration of Ukhrul, and the Divisional Forest Office (DFO), Ukhrul.
The formal session, moderated by Nimchui Shingnaisui of the Phungyo Baptist Youth Society (PBYS), began with an invocation by PBC Elder Amyson Shaiza. Shaiza emphasized that environmental protection warrants as much critical attention as politics, noting its direct impact on daily lives and the future of humanity.
Speaking from a theological standpoint, PBC Associate Pastor Seth Ragui reminded the gathering that natural resources are a divine blessing meant to sustain life, conferring a spiritual and moral obligation on humans to preserve creation.
Highlighting the profound correlation between a thriving ecosystem and public well-being, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Ukhrul, Dr. A.S. Kapangring, lauded Phungyo Baptist Church, the “Mother Church of Manipur”, for anchoring the initiative.
“Access to clean water, hygienic surroundings, fresh air, and organic food are the building blocks of a healthy society,” Dr. Kapangring stated, calling for unified public action. The district administration lent strong voice to the call for conservation. Polly Makan, ADC/ADM of Ukhrul, noted that the absolute urgency of climate issues drew her to the event despite pressing official schedules, praising the stakeholders for widening public awareness.
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In a hard-hitting address, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Dinringam Kamei reminded participants of their roles as mere stewards of the Earth. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s timeless words, “Nature has enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed,” Kamei strongly advocated for the complete eradication of illegal poppy cultivation. He highlighted extensive tree plantation as a dual solution to combat environmental degradation and check the regional drug menace, nostalgically recalling the pristine, untouched beauty of Ukhrul during his early career posting.
A pivotal segment of the morning saw Hopkinson Chiphang, MPS (Retd) and Chairman of the PBC Board of Trustees, administer the official ‘ACT NOW FOR CLIMATE’ pledge. The gathering collectively vowed to actively protect local forests, conserve resources, and champion ecological sustainability. The formal program drew to a close with a peroration and vote of thanks by UDWJA President R. Lester Makang, who expressed deep appreciation to the local departments and the community for turning words into actionable solidarity. Grace for the subsequent refreshment session was pronounced by Wungnaochon Raleng, Secretary of the PBC Women Society.
Moving from dialogue to direct action, the secondary phase of the observance saw the official launching of a tree plantation drive by ADC/ADM Polly Makan and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Laishram Gitla. A mass sapling plantation drive was successfully executed along the PBC Cemetery Approach Road (Tangrei) and the Mission Ground (Alungtang) . The hands-on campaign stood out as a physical testament to the community’s pledge toward crafting a greener, climate-resilient Ukhrul.