Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 03 2008:
FOURTEEN YEAR old Tababa, a class VIII student of Irengbam Madhumati junior high school in Manipur's Bishnupur district had never seen a real train in his lifetime.
Like him, Irengbam Langam, another 16 year old boy who read in class X at Oinam high school in the same district had never visited any place outside the state so far.
However both of them would have the opportunity to visit places like Dimapur, Guwahati and even Kolkata this time during an army sponsored education tour for school children.
It came to light during a brief interaction with media persons on the sidelight of a flag off ceremony of an excursion tour from Manipur's Bishnupur district to Kolkata here at this picturesque divisional headquarter of Indian army located on the foothill of Leimakhong, around 20 km north of Imphal on Wednesday afternoon.
For the smooth conduct of their educational tour, troops of 6 Jat Regiment under the 57 Mountain division selected 30 students from Oinam high school, Irengbam high school, Irengbam Madhumati junior high school, Phubala high school and Ruddra high school.
According to three school teachers who were accompanying the students also informed that almost all the students participating in the fortnight long educational tour were not aware of the actual situation outside the state as they never visited it earlier.
After the brief interaction session General Officer Commanding of 57 Mountain Division Major General Shakti Gurung flagged off the tour from premises of Army auditorium.
Earlier the GOC Shakti Gurung while addressing the gathering urged the participating students to enjoy the trip and narrate their experience to their dear and near ones when come back home.
The new general of the division also called upon the people of the state in particular to help them in achieving a "peaceful and fast progressing state" in the days
to come.
"This education tour is a giant leap and lifetime opportunity for the students," he said, adding, "No dream is too big." He further advised the students to keep track of development to make Manipur a progressive state.
The students' team would be visiting famous Martinere school, Birla planetarium, Science city, Kalighat temple, Alipore Zoo, Netaji Subhaschandra Bose Institute and Victoria memorial during the visit to Kolkata.