monalisa patsani
post news network
Bhubaneswar, June 11: Four bikers from the state have set a record for the ‘longest anti-tobacco motorcycle expedition’. The 15-day expedition covering seven states has been recognised by India Book of Records, World Records India and Miracles World Records.
Bikers Rashmi Ranjan Dash, Madhu Sudan Mishra, Kedarnath Mohapatra and Chandi Prasad Pattanaik of Mission Odisha, Puri, set out on the expedition last November and covered Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya. On the way they interacted with 86,252 students and spread anti tobacco messages.
“We set off from Puri November 1, 2015 with the motive making schoolchildren from Classes IX to XII aware of the harmful effects of tobacco. We are happy that our expedition proved to be a record-setting venture,” Madhu Sudan said.
“We visited several schools and interacted with students there. These youngsters are the future of the country and they should develop healthy habits. Only if they are strong, can our future be strong,” he added.
The team has been organising such expeditions since 2013. “So far we have conducted all Orissa tours in 2013 and 2014 and seven interstate tours in 2015. Our main objective is to eradicate tobacco use from society. We are targeting school and college students as they are susceptible to the habits of smoking and chewing tobacco to look macho.” Madhu Sudan said.
Awareness is essential at the ground level and our team is organising seminars involving doctors and other experts. “We are on a mission that will continue until we succeed in saving these youngsters.”
Another biker of renown, Durga Charan Mishra, who has also made it to the Limca Book of Records along with his wife, said: “I am very happy with the achievement of these bikers in spreading awareness against tobacco use among youngsters. I hope and pray more youths will come forward and take the challenge and share their experience.”
