Lamka, December 07 2008: With an indomitable spirit and unflinching determination to fly high up in the sky one day two lads from this township are inching close to realising their childhood dreams even though their aspirations nearly stumbled thanks to bureaucratic hurdles not alien in this part of the world.

Unwilling to let red tapism smother their enthusiasm and dream of piloting an aircraft in the near future the CCpur duo through their never-say die spirit even stirred the stoic attitude of State Government officials to finally land themselves in one of the country's top aviation classrooms.

Even though a far fetched dream initially, having grown up in modest families K Pauginmuan and Chinginthang nevertheless grabbed the chance literally with both hands when the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India issued in invitation for Pilot scholarship for ten ST students in 2006.Giving the best of their efforts the duo made it to the merit list of ten students entitled for the scholarship.

In a letter dated 9th October 2007, the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Education Section), informed the government of Manipur and the teenage duo that they were selected for the scholarship along with one Ngayaomi from Ukhrul for the scholarship.

However when the CCpur duo approached officials of the Tribal Development (TD) Department they were abruptly told that nothing of that sort exists in their post-matric scholarship.

When the letter meant for the state TD department reached them they returned the letter to the ministry saying that the government of Manipur does not have provision/scheme for grant of scholarship for Commercial Pilot License (CPL) at present.

Taken aback by the development the duo contacted the central ministry and outer Manipur Constituency MP Mani Charenamei leading to a memo duel between the two.

Finally, after the Ministry of Tribal affairs assured the state TD Dept to reimburse as their application for additional fund was under process and duly disclosing the funds they have so far sanctioned to the state for post-matric scholarship, Pauginmuan and Chinginthang were granted demand drafts amounting to Rs.45,37,760 on November 27, 2008, eleven months after they were entitled for the benefit.

The duo, who are at the Chimes Aviation Private Limited in Madhya Pradesh since December 1, had to run from pillar to post due to apathyof the TD department.

In pursuing their dream they relied on MP Mani Charenamei who reportedly gave his personal contact number and even waited along with the youngsters for more than an hour to meet the man in-charge in the Ministry of Tribal affairs in New Delhi.

Shocked by the treatment meted out to him by officials of TD Dept, yet delighted that his younger brother could pursue his childhood dream of flying a plane, Nangkhanlal said, 'it is a dream come true for us" .

Though the TD department is yet to concede the hostel expenses of Rs.7500 per month in awarding the scholarship, elder brother of K Pauginmuan, a resident of Bungmual village said, he will is delighted that atleast the course fee was finally granted by the state TD department despite their initial reluctance.

"Had it not been for the outer MP and a senior Pilot from the state, Binodini, we will never be in that class room," he adds.

The teenagers who did their schooling and plus two in the district has now shown the way for the students who are willing to follow their flying dreams.

Their friend, Ngayaomi from Hundung in Ukhrul, another ST student from the state that made it to the selection cut among the ten ST students nationwide, however missed the opportunity as the duo could not trace him throughout their eleven month ordeal.

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