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“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome” – Arthur Ashe
Diabetes is a condition of life that knows no boundaries; hence Diabetes Awareness should not be limited to those who are educated and belong to the so called societal mainstream. On this journey of touching million lives with Diabetes Awareness, our fellow activist and solo cyclist took the opportunity to touch the life of that deprived fellow citizen who also deserves the right to be aware more about Diabetes than the man who could afford the luxury of clinical care whenever & wherever he possibly can ! As he bids adieu, pedaling over 3000km across the borders of our two beloved countries, he has acquired hordes of attributes to reach near salvation in understanding Diabetes & shall continue his quest for awareness of a healthy and good Life, free of DIABETES, one day, to prove the mission of DAY in a real holistic experiment of his!
DAY is always striving to reach common people with it’s MISSION of Diabetes Awareness & planned an unique cross country Cycle Expedition to build-up social awareness against Diabetes. The expedition was conducted to mark two BIG DAY related to Diabetes, like International Diabetes Educator’s Day (IDED), 5th September and World Diabetes Day (WDD), 14th November. Our fellow activist & solo cyclist Samrat Moulick, Indian Book of Record holder being the cyclist, has started his journey from Kolkata on 5th September, 2019 & reached Dhaka by flight and the cycle expedition flagged off by the dignitaries of SAARC countries at Dhaka on 7th September, 2019. He covered 21 districts & travelled 2000km of Bangladesh and reached at Agartala on 4th October, 2019 through Akhuri Border. In India he was received by our President Dr Debasis Basu along with Executive Member Dr Mridul Das and Life Member Angshuman Kamal Bhattacharya & they met the press there. Incidently Samrat reached Agartala during Durga Puja & he spent 5 days there to meet thousands of people of different age group during festive period and then started for Shilong, Meghalaya. In Shilong he stayed at State Guest House & met Hon’ble Governor there for blessings. He also took part in different events there including a program in AIR & Army school. From Shilong he started for Guwahati, Assam and from there he entered West Bengal through Barbisa, Coochbehar on 29th October. The SDO, Coochbehar & other officials welcomed him to West Bengal. In Coochbehar, Samrat did few interactive sessions with common people and conducted the survey on diabetes and gestational diabetes and from there he reached Dhoopguri on 1st November and Jalpaiguri on 2nd November. Few social activists felicitated Samrat & he took part in different event with the mission. On 3rd November, Samrat reached Siliguri on the way to Phansidewa. On 4th November morning Samrat took part in an event with common people specially ricksaw pular & auto drivers and reached Phansidewa, where he was received by BDO himself at BDO Office. On next day Samrat attended a session with Self Help Group women of that block and again started his journry towards Islampur, North Dinajpur and reached there on 5th November and Raiganj on 6th November. In Raiganj, Samrat met with media persons and Additional District Magistrate along with lot of common people. From Raiganj he reached Malda & met with District Magistrate of Malda, after that he reached Pakur, Bihar enroute to Rampurhat, Birbhum. He reached Rampurhat on 9th November and Bolpur on 10th November & received by BDO, Bolpur. From Bolpur, Samrat reached Durgapur on 11th November and received by SDO, Durgapur. Samrat attended an event organized by IQ City Hospital & IDGDC on 12th November at Durgapur and reached Burdwan on that day. After attending a program at Burdwan Medical College, Samrat started for Kolkata and reached Kolkata on 14th November, World Diabetes Day and received by Hon’ble Speaker, WBLA at Assembly House and felicitated in the evening at Kolkata Press Club by Hon’ble MoS, H&FW, Govt of West Bengal. In India, Samrat covered 24 districts of 5 states and travelled 1000 kms to meet lakhs of people with this MISSION.
This FIRST EVER cross country cycle expedition for DIABETES AWARENESS was SUCCESSFUL with the help of BADAS, Bangladesh, Govt. of Tripura, NEDS, Tripura Chapter, Govt of Meghalaya, NEDS, Meghalaya Chapter, Govt. of Assam, NEDS, Assam Chapter, District administrations of Coochbehar, Uttar Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Malda, Birbhum, Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman of West Bengal, our WELL WISHERS of both countries and special THANKS to Shri Shantanu Naha, WBCS (Exe), Joint Secretary, Govt. of West Bengal and obviously our fellow activists & cyclist SAMRAT MOULICK.