IMPHAL, June 15: The state Planning department and Youth Affairs & Sports department today organized a felicitation ceremony of the mountaineers of the state of the 1st NE India Top of the World Mt Everest Expedition- 2013, at the New Indoor Stadium, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.
State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who attended the function as chief guest handed Rs 10 lakhs to each summiteer including the NCC cadets and the team leader and Rs 2 lakhs to each member from the state of the 1st NE Expedition to Mt Everest 2013.
The three state summiteers from the state in the 1st North East India Expedition to Mount Everest – 2013 are W Bidyapati Devi, first Women Summiteer of Manipur, Chingkheinganba Meitei, the 16 years old boy from Manipur and Puyamcha Mohon, Summiteer and Deputy Leader of the Expedition.
The NCC cadets from Manipur are Ph Bidyachandra Singh and Chirom Shangkar Singh.
Meanwhile, a Rs 10 lakh cash award was also handed to Suraj Singh Nongmaithem, the first summiteer of Manipur, who was a member of Sikkim Amateurs Mountaineering Association (SAMA) Mount Everest Expedition- 2008.
Further addressing the function, the Chief Minister while congratulating the mountaineers of the state had expressed, “It is indeed a proud moment for us to welcome and felicitate the brave mountaineers of Manipur”.
“Sports is a major strength of Manipur”, the CM exclaimed while adding “Our boys and girls have excelled in many fields of sports and have brought laurels and medals. They have made our country and State proud”.
He said, “We must nurture the talents of our youths”.
It may be mentioned that mountaineers of the 1st North East India Expedition to Mount Everest – 2013 sponsored by the North Eastern Council and organised by the Manipur Mountaineering & Trekking Association and supported by Planning Department had summited the highest peak in the world-the Mount Everest last month.
DS Poonia, state Chief Secretary was the Chef De Mission of the Expedition which included three mountaineers from the state who had summited the peak.
Another two NCC cadets from Manipur, who were part of First NCC Expedition to Mount Everest 2013 organised by National Cadets Corps had also summited the peak during the last month.
Further continuing with his speech, the Chief Minister congratulated the Manipur Mountaineering & Trekking Association (MMTA) for having accomplished such an expedition.
All members of the expedition and people who worked behind the scene deserve credit for this, he said while also expressing particular appreciation for the North Eastern Council and Ministry of DoNER, UK Sangma, Secretary, M/DoNER in particular, for extending financial assistance and support for the Expedition.
“I congratulate Ms W Bidyapati Devi, first Women Summiter of Manipur. I also congratulate Shri Puyamcha Mohon, Summiteer and Deputy Leader of the Expedition. Among the Team members, Ms Wanshuk Myrthong from Meghalaya is the first woman to scale the Mount Everest. Shri Tarun Saikia from Assam and Shri David Zohmangaiha are the first Summiters of Assam and Mizoram respectively. Ms Anshu Jamsenpa , a mother of two children from Arunachal who has created history by being the first mother to have successfully scaled the Mount Everest thrice. I must congratulate the entire Team and Team Leader Dr L Surjit”, he said.
The Manipur Chief Minister while extending gratitude to the Sherpas said, “We would like to extend our gratitude to the Sherpas, whose guidance and contribution to the success of the expedition was vital. They have guided and taken care of our youths and brought them back home safe”.
The CM further expressed his happiness over the Minister DoNER’s agreement in principle to consider a proposal of Manipur Mountaineering & Trekking Association for establishing a Regional Institute of Adventure at Lamdan.
“We will extend all support required from the state Government for funding the project from Ministry of DoNER/ NEC. I am happy to announce that State Government has also agreed to enhance annual grant to MMTA from Rs7 lakhs to Rs10 lakhs,” he said.