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Preserving The Cultivated Ornaments
Arunachal is endowed with rich variety of Orchids found in almost all
parts of the State. Number of them ate ornamentals with exquisite beauty.
However, with the increasing developmental activity resulting in the
clearance of forests and indiscriminate collection for trade, number of
Orchids have become endangered and are threatened of extinction.
Realizing this kind of precarious situation in all the orchid habitats of
our country, the Orchid Society of India, established in 1984, decided to
open regional chapters to spread the message of conservation and promotion
of Orchids throughout the country. The chapter for Auranachal, Assam and
Triputa was entrusted to Dr. S. N. Hegde, Orchidologist.
Foundation Of The Society
Accordingly the idea of starting an orchid society at Itanagar was
discussed by him with Dr. (Mrs) Sudesh Mehta who was the Chairperson of
the Ladies Club at Itanagar. She propagated this idea seriously amongst
the members of the Club and other Orchid-lovers at Itanagar, which enabled
Dr. Hegde to convene the first ever meeting held on 14-7-1991 at Itanagar
to establish the Orchid society of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri J. K. Mehta,
the then Principal Chief conservator of forests, also supported the idea
and all the Orchid lovers and enthusiasts in the state could be brought
under this society with the objective of conserving, cultivating and
propagating the Orchids in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Society elected Mrs. O. Dai as its first President, Mrs. Mehta as its
first Vice- President and Mrs Vimla Mehra, IPS as its first secretary.
Mrs. Mehra, however, had to resign within six months consequent upon her
transfer to Delhi. Hence, Mr. K. D. Singh, IFS succeeded her as the
Secretary.
During this period the Society could be registered in July 1993 and
conducted number of meetings, Slide Shows, demonstration of Orchid
cultivation, drawing competition and seedling distribution to its members.
During later part of 1993, the society elected Shri Ashok Nath, IAS, as
its new President shri Avinash Kumar IFS as Vice - President and Shri B.
S. Beniwal IFS, as its Secretary. Under the Presidentship of Shri Ashok
Nnath, greater thrust has been given now to promote Orchid Conservation
and of course Orchid Culture as an economic activity of the local trible
farmers and entrepreneurs.
Objectives
Thus, the Society now aims at achieving the following objectives:
Promote Orchid cultivation in home garden.
To promote awareness and to disseminate knowledge of Orchids.
To project the importance of conserving the bio-diversity along with
orchids in their habitat, the economic potential, ecological functioning
and propagation of Indian Orchids.
To help, protect and preserve the germ- plasma of endangered and
threatened species of Orchids.
To help economically backward sections of Society to generate alternative
source of income through cultivation of orchids.
To promote open new avenues through orchids for self-employments through
orchid cultivation by the educated unemployed youths.
To assist the economically backward persons, educated unemployed youths
and others in marketing. 