Coimbatore-based cyclist Vishnuram has set a new record by crossing the country's four borders, driving a car. He handed over Rs. 6 lakhs to the Coimbatore Dist. Collector and CCMC Commissioner which was raised through his car travel in aid of education of the girl child
Coimbatore: A youth from Coimbatore created a record by travelling in a car across the country, to raise awareness for the education of the girl child.
Vishnu Ram, a cyclist from Saibaba Colony in Coimbatore had earlier cycled to emphasize on the education of the girl child. In order to emphasize and reiterate the need for the education of the girl child, Vishnu Ram drove in a car on a round trip which covered all four directions of the country.
On the morning of May 28 in Chennai, police officer Shankar flagged off Vishnu's car to kick-start his journey. Vishnu then proceeded to the eastern part of India to Teju in Arunachal Pradesh and from there proceeded northwards to Ladakh, Kashmir. Later, Vishnu drove to Koteshwar, a Pakistan border in the state of Gujarat, which is India's western border. From there, Vishnu proceeded down towards Tamil Nadu, the Southern border of India and then returned to Chennai on June 7.
Vishnu completed the round trip journey in 10 days and 16 hours, covering 12,226 kilometres across 16 states and four Union territories, He became the first Indian to cover all four borders in India on a car trip, in a short span of time. Vishnu's achievement has been recognized by the World Record Union, Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records, and he has bee honoured with an award for successfully crossing the four borders of India in a car, in a short span of time.
On some days during the car trip, Vishnu Ram reportedly had not slept for 30 to 35 hours on the trot and ate only once or twice a day. He is said to have faced challenging climatic conditions, rough roads to the dust of Rajasthan, the cold of Arunachal Pradesh, the snow of Kashmir and yet managed to complete his car journey overcoming serious challenges.
The certificate of achievement and medals were presented to Vishnu in the presence of the Coimbatore District Collector, Kranti Kumar Pati, and the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation Commissioner, M Prathap. Vishnu Ram handed over a cheque of Rs. 6 lakh collected through his car trip to the Collector and CCMC Commissioner.
The cheque was.presented on the condition that this fund should be utilized only for the education of the girl child and improve the basic amenities in the schools where girls are studying, under the Namakku Naame Scheme.
Vishnu said that he is planning next to cross the four borders of India on a bicycle to once again reiterate the importance of education for girl children.