By Our Staff Reporter IMPHAL, Aug 17: The San-gai Express has extended monetary assistance of Rs 50,000 to G Ingobi Ching-tham who would be touring seven South Asian countries on bicycle. The Sangai Express publisher Nishikant Singh Sapam handed over the monetary aid to the cyclist at the office of the newspaper located at Sega Road, Thouda Bhabok Leikai this afternoon. G Ingobi Chingtham’s bicycle tour was already flagged from Kangla by CAF&PD Minister Karam Shyam on August 3. He would take such messages as ‘one world, one family’, ‘Act East Policy’, ‘Ima Keithel’, ‘women empowerment’, ‘climate change’, ‘respect your identity and others will respect you’, ‘in search of one’s origin’ etc to seven countries namely; Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Singapore. Speaking at the gathering where the monetary aid was handed over to Ingobi Chingtham, Nishikant Singh Sapam remarked that the messages the cyclist would take to the seven countries are quite meaningful. Wishing a successful tour to the cyclist, Nishikant appealed to all the people to extend monetary aid to Ingobi Chingtham as acknowledgement of his firm determination. Notably, Ingobi earlier took out a similar bicycle tour from Imphal to Delhi spreading the message of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. Speaking at the gathering, Ingobi Chingtham said that he would wear Mani-puri traditional dresses throughout his tour which would cover over 10,000 Kms within 220 days. He said that he would make his best efforts to show a video film which can describe Manipur succinctly at an international youth conference which would be held in Singapore in addition to highlighting the unique Ima Keithel. 21 year old Ingobi Chingtham, a resident of Khongjom Sapam Leikai, said that he has the will power to tour the seven countries on bicycle even though he has no such monetary fortitude. Confiding that he has been facing financial problems regarding the bicycle tour, he expressed keen desire for the Chief Minister to give him certain assistance. Ingobi said that he would halt at police stations, schools and colleges in the course of his tour so as to reduce expenditures as far as possible. The Sangai Express, English edition Editor Hijam Rajesh as well as Manipuri edition Editor Khogendra Khomdram were also present at the gathering.
