Manipur's Sarita Regional Boxing Academy extends humanitarian support to displaced children

The unprecedented prevailing crisis of Manipur has utterly turned the life of many children upside down. But on the other hand, some affected children fortunately saved from such disastrous life receiving humanitarian support at right time. 

“I am so glad that I got the opportunity of training for boxing at free of cost. With the help of this support, I will learn boxing with heart and soul to become an international player in my life,” expressed with strong determination by Thoi (name change). 

It has become a well-known fact that how the ongoing conflict greatly affected the children in relief camps in terms of education, mental and emotional well-being. Amongst them, Thoi who is in the age of around 10 from Moreh under Tengnoupal district is also one of them. 

Her house was completely burnt down on May 3, the day the turmoil was unfolded and took shelter in relief camp along with her parents. Her life was completely traumatised as she mind was haunted often with the fearful incidents happening in the state. But meeting with team of Sarita Regional Boxing Academy, Thoi has reduce her suffering to a great extent.

Thoi said that, she has been staying in the hostel of Sarita Regional Boxing Academy from early period of conflict. The day she had stayed in academy, at least some relief was brought in her life because of the comfort provided in the institute.

“I feel so homely staying in the academy. I got new friends from various places whose fate are similar to me. They also fled from their native village in search of safer place. We used to get up in the morning at around 5 am and start our training at 6 am to 7.30 am. Then we get ready for school which is started at 9 am and get over at 1.30 pm. After reaching academy, we take rest for sometime and then resume our training at 3 pm to 4.30 pm,” said Thoi sharing their daily routine.

Since the day crisis was started, many generous people come forward to extend their possible help for those whose life was completely shaken by conflict. In the same vein, Sarita Regional Boxing Academy, an institute run by boxing legend and Arjuna Awardee Laishram Sarita and her husband Chongtham Thoiba from last 2012 at Mayang Imphal is also contributing their humanitarian support during the crisis. The institution had trained more than 500 boxers from last 2012 and some of them even brought laurels in the state. 

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A team of this institute travel from one relief camp to another to find out affected children who are interested in boxing. The academy started such noble act of providing free training for boxing from early part of crisis and still continuing to date

An administrator of the institute Thoiba Chongtham said that pondering about the trauma which children may go through, their initiative was taken up. The institute is overwhelmed of getting the opportunity to play at least some role during this heart wrenching crisis through sports. 
“Our academy has a team who are very active and alert all the time. With the help of the team, we have visited relief camps residing in different locations to figure out children who have interest in boxing. As an outcome of our effort, we got 13 children of various ages. Most of them are between 10 to 15 from worst affected places like Moreh, Ikou, Wangoo, Motbung etc. We kept them in the boarding of our academy,” he informed. 

Thoiba continued and shared that displaced children who are under training also took admission in nearby school so that academic career are not compromise. The institute feels so contended for being able to give at least some possible support.

“The institute is planning to expand the accommodation within some months to train greater number of children. We have the vision of even providing the training facilities to poverty stricken family from remote corner. I would like to convey this message that any displaced children can come and avail the facilities we are providing,” he appealed and expressed his desire to shape life of children as much as he can till they reach the pinnacle.

One of the instructors of the academy, Karam Achouba Meitei said that earlier most of the affected children who have been training in the academy were emotionally break down.  As such the institute focus in motivating and cheering their life. Seeing the development and changes, the institute presume that the children might have reduce the shock and pain driven by crisis. 

He also said that some children are so talented and curious to learn the skill of boxing. The institute is always ready to share their contribution in shaping the future generation. 

One of the children from Wangoo who is currently under training in Sarita Regional Boxing Academy said that this academy has provided him a ray of hope in his life. He expressed his desire to pursue his career in boxing and bring laurel of state in future like world champion Laishram Sarita Devi.