IMPHAL, June 3: The mountaineers from North East India who summited Mt. Everest between 17th May to 24th May 2013 were honored by Jitendra Singh, Minister (i/c)- Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India and General Bikram Singh, Chief of Army Staff.
According to a release of the PRO of the 1st North East India top of World Mt. Everest Expedition 2013, a solemn function was organized to Flag down the Expedition at Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi on May 3 at 2:00 PM. The leader of the expedition Dr. L Surjit presented a commemorating photograph of the Expedition to the Minister and Santosh Shekhar, PRO of the Expedition presented the Memento of the Expedition. The Minister also presented a Memento to the leader of the Expedition.
The Expedition team along with N Kulkarani, Jt. Director- Planning Dept., Govt. of Manipur and Secretary, Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India were present at the function. The Expedition was funded by North Eastern Council, Shillong and Planning Department, Govt. of Manipur, the release said.
O Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister, Manipur and DS Poonia, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Manipur is the Chief de-Mission, the release said.
Speaking at the function, he assured to visit Manipur Mountaineering Institute, Lamdan and also assured to make a Mt. Everest Expedition by North East Mountaineers a regular annual affair. He has sought proposal from the Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association for another Expedition. He has assured of all possible help to promote Mountaineering and Adventure Sports in the region. Minister of Rural Development, Govt. of India was also present during the function, the release said.
At the felicitation function organized by General Bikram Singh, Chief of Army Staff at South Block, New Delhi, the General presented the Team and Officials with a Memento. The Expedition leader and PRO also presented a commemorating photograph of the Expedition and the Memento of the Expedition, the release further said.
Speaking at the felicitation function, the Chief of Army Staff congratulated the team and assured all possible help to the MMTA. Vice Chief of Army Staff and DGMT were present during the function. He also stressed that the young team of mountaineers has excelled in endurance, discipline and team spirit, that are one of the reasons for succeeding in the expedition, the release said quoting the General.
The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh will be hosting a felicitation for the team in the evening on June 3, 2013 at Arunachal Bhavan, New Delhi, it added.