SOLO CYCLE EXPEDITION: "Be good and Do good, Peace and Progress"

Ferozepur, August 17, 2012: Shiba Prashad Dass, hailing from Brahmapur (Odisha) is on solo cycle expedition "Highway Journey-6" to cover more than 50,000 KMs with an object, to give a message "Be good and Do good, Peace and Progress".

On reaching Ferozepur, Shiba was welcomed by Lion Dr.Naresh Khanna, president Lions Club, Ferozepur, on Independence Day. He was honoured with citation and cash alongwith best wishes for his onward journey.

Shiba has already under five such solo cycle expeditions on different messages of social evils. The first was in 1981 within Odisha, second was from 1982 to 1986 of three and a half month and 13 days in major parts of India, in 1988 for 8 months in 314 blocks of Orissa, for nine years from 15 August 2009 to 15 August 2009 in 28 States of India including 5 Union Territories and 5 border states of Odisha - West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh and the last one was of one year May 1, 2010 to May 1, 2011 in the Maoist areas, with a message of peace, discipline, cooperation and prosperity.

Shiba while talking to this Correspondent said, "He has started his journey on cycle, on January 26, 2012 on Republic Day from Odisha and after covering Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, UP, Utrakhand, HP, Leh, and J&K. He daily covers 70 to 100 KMs in a day and visits two-three school/ college or institution during his journey. He has already travelled about 20,000 KMs and likely to cover more than 50,000 KMs at the end of his tour of one and half year. Now, he will be moving to Delhi, Rajasthan, Bhopal, Gujrat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnatka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and will reach back to his home town in June, 2013".

On asking as to what prompted him to cycle tour during his six cycle expeditions, Shiba said, "This is not a cycle tour by an individual for his own pleasure; rather this is an awareness and educative campaign".

Sharing his experience of visits, during his longest cycle expedition, to the schools/colleges and meeting people, Shiba said, "So far as my observation is concerned, education is there but there is a need to impart education on moral values to uplift the standard of the society".