Winners of Nagaland State-Level Painting Competition on Energy Conservation 2026 with dignitaries on in Kohima November 12. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 12
As part of the National Campaign on Energy Conservation initiated by the Ministry of Power, Government of India, under the aegis of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) organised the state-level painting competition on Energy Conservation 2026 at de Oriental Grand, Kohima on November 12.
The initiative aims to create awareness among young students about the importance of energy efficiency, conservation and responsible energy consumption while providing them with a creative platform to express their ideas and contribute towards building a sustainable and energy-secure future.
The competition witnessed participation of 1860 students from 56 schools across Nagaland at the school-level.
Following the preliminary evaluation, the top 100 entries from both the groups were shortlisted for the State-Level Competition.
The valedictory function was graced by Er James Khala, Director, New & Renewable Energy, Government of Nagaland and Deenabandhu Panda, Additional Director, Directorate of Education, Government of Nagaland as the chief guest and guest of honour respectively.
Er Renilo Nuh, Joint Director, New & Renewable Energy, Government of Nagaland also graced the event.
Mitigate climate change for healthy planet
Addressing the gathering, Er Khala stressed on the need to put a concerted effort to mitigate climate change for a healthy planet.
He stressed on the need to reduce the usage of fossil fuel, which form the main cause of climate change and increase the severity of global warming. “We have to reduce the use of fossil fuels by switching to renewable energy like solar, wind and hydro potentials,” he said.
He also stressed on the need to use eco-friendly transport to reduce climate change, including support eco- friendly products, conservation of water, reduce food waste, adopt reduce, reuse and recycle approaches, upgrade home energy efficiency, tree plantation and preservation of the natural resources.
Er Khala stressed on the need to adopt a new kind of development in way of adopting the eco-friendly life, systematical agriculture and adoption of solar and renewable energy sources. He said that Government of India has come out with the idea to adopt renewable energy as the alternate energy.
If we act locally, preserve the energy and have energy security with us, the world peace will be there, he said. “Your participation in energy conservation will definitely help the nation to grow further,” he told the students.
Become ambassadors of energy conservation
Addressing the gathering, N Khogendra Meitei, General Manager, NEEPCO and Nodal Officer, Nagaland State Painting Competition on Energy Conservation, highlighted the significance of the National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation and its role in engaging schoolchildren in the national movement towards energy efficiency.
He informed the gathering that the competition is being conducted across the country under the aegis of BEE, Ministry of Power since 2005.
Last year, more than 80 lakh students from around 1,10,000 schools across the country participated in this competition. He emphasized that the participation of young minds is particularly important in addressing the growing challenges of energy security and ensuring a sustainable future for coming generations.
He encouraged the students to understand that energy conservation is not merely an individual responsibility but a collective national commitment. He encouraged children to become ambassadors of energy conservation in their respective schools, homes and communities.
The National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation 2026 is being conducted across the nation around the themes” Save Power, Secure the Future” and “BEE Star Labels Shine, Energy Security is Divine.”
The first prize winner in both categories at the state level received Rs 50,000 while 2nd and 3rd position holders pocketed Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively.
10 consolation prize winners received Rs 7500 in each category.
Meanwhile, the top 3 winners of the State-Level Competition will represent Nagaland at the National-Level Painting Competition in New Delhi on 11 December.
The national winners will be felicitated in New Delhi on December 14 on National Energy Conservation Day by President of India. At the national level, the first prize in each group carries a cash award of Rs 1 lakh while second and third position will get Rs 50,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively.
Winners of State Level Painting Competition
Group A - 1st: Issina Rangkau (Little Star Higher Secondary School, Dimapur); 2nd: Jasper Varay (Ember Art Academy, Dimapur); 3rd: Hardik Khemani (Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Dimapur)
Group B - 1st: Anamika Ghose (Chitrakala School of Fine Arts, Dimapur; 2nd: Smiti Debnath (PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Dimapur); 3rd: Lhuvese Medeo (Government High School, Yoruba (Phek)
