Antony visits charitable boys hostel run by Army's aid in Manipur

Leimakhong (Manipur), Feb 20 (ANI): Defence Minister AK Antony visited a unique boy's Hostel-Disha, being run by the Army in Leimakhong in Manipur.

Taking time off his grueling two-day tour to forward and insurgency affected areas of the North-East, Antony on Saturday spent some time with the boys and wished them success in life.

The Chief of Army Staff Gen VK Singh, Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Bikram Singh and GOC 3 Corps Lt Gen NK Singh accompanied the Defence Minister.

The hostel is a modest effort of the Red Shield Division to reach out to all nine districts of Manipur and to bring bright and under-privileged children of the state under one roof to give them the much needed education and healthy upbringing.

The project has been fully functional from the academic year 2008-09.

Disha has 25 children who are selected from all districts of the state. It provides free education, food, stay, medical cover, personal kit and above all, affection. An elderly local couple has been appointed to run the hostel and to look after the children. And the children address them as 'Daddy' and 'Mummy'.

The Army has put in place facilities for all round development through games, sports, communication skills, visits, painting, computers and music etc. The students also have their own gymnasium, table tennis table and a basketball court.

The children living in Disha have been admitted into the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Leimakhong and have been assured of free education up to class XII. (ANI)