Leimakhong, April 9: Nine year old Wungritharonra Shimray of Nungbi village in Manipur`™s Ukhrul district look happy for getting an opportunity to continue his school life after he joined the chief of Army staff general VK Singh conceptualized 57th Mountain Division run `Disha`™ boys hostel here at Leimakhong in Manipur.
Youngest among four sibling, this little boy who read in Class IV at Kendriya Vidyalaya at this army headquarter, around 20 km north of Imphal in Senapati district, had been staying at `Disha`™ since last month.
When this reporter asked whether he like the new place or not, Wungritharonra who look shy said,`It`™s good`. Though he didn`™t speak much unlike other older students, he confidently replied that he wanted to become an IAS officer.
His 40 year old poor and unwell father Chinaoyo,mother Seinotla along with two brothers and one sister couldn`™t come to see him on Saturday`™s brief parent-children get together unlike others at their hostel premises.
Wungritharonra and 23 other talented children from the weaker section of the conflict ridden Manipuri society were given free boarding and lodging facilities besides other support by the 57th Mountain Division and it was run by Territorial Army`™s 165 Infantry Battalion(H&H) Assam since the troops are from Manipur, to give them a platform to excel like other colleagues. The facilities are expected to provide till the students appear for their 12th standard.
Major general DS Hooda, general officer commanding of 57th Mountain Division speaking to media persons in this regard informed that they`™re also sponsorshing a student to continue his further studies in Sainik School Imphal in an effort to provide good education to excel and become a responsible citizen of the country.
The student who reads in Class VII standard in Sainik School after staying in `Disha`™ is M Stalin,a resident of Sugunu.
Lieutenant general RK Loomba, general officer commanding of 3 Corps had inaugurated the hostel on September 29, 2008 with just 10 students.
At present Disha has 24 students including 6 each from Senapati and Churachandpur districts, 2 each from Imphal and Chandel, 1 each from Thoubal and Ukhrul, 3 from Bishnupur and 4 from Thoubal districts.
