Cycle odessey to make a difference

IMPHAL December 12: Chayan Mondal, 23, a resident of 24 Parganas of West Bengal had set out on a cycle journey to promote the cause of eye donation in November 2010. The cycle expedition will cover 27,000 kms in approximately 450 days. He is a member of International Eye Bank, Kolkata and is promoting the cause of Eye Donation through the length and breadth of the country. Gautam Mohan Chakraborty, Police Commissioner of West Bengal flagged him off on 7 November 2010. He had travelled from Kolkata to Southern India followed by Western, Northern and now Eastern India, binding the country through a unique expedition for a noble cause, a PIB (DW) release stated.

On December 12 that is after thirteen months and four days of his journey he was flagged off by lt col K S Bisht, second in command 33 Assam Rifles from Moirang Sendra.

It has further informed that during an interaction, Chayan Mondal brought out his dream to eradicate blindness and enlightened the general population. Considering the fact that one third of world’s blinds are Indians, he has realized that awareness is a key factor. As per statistics available one crore thirty lakh people are blind in our country. Out of these, thirty lakh people can get back their vision through cornea grafting which will require thirty lakh posthumous corneas. Chayan Mondal believes that eye donation is a noble gesture which can enable nearly thirty lakh people to see. In his journey, he has engaged in photography to capture beautiful facets of the Nation. 33 Assam Rifles wished him all success and luck in his endeavour. He has proceeded on NH2 to Churachandpur, on his onward journey to Aizwal, the release added.