 Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 11: Tawi Trekkers J&K today celebrated its 36th anniversary in a simple but impressive function held at K L Sehgal Hall, Abhinav Theatre here today.
On this occasion a number of trekkers, sport climbers, mountaineers and institutions which promote adventure activities were honoured by the Chief Guest Sh. S. Bhattacharjee, Chairman, Indian Mountaineering Foundation, North Zone Committee, New Delhi ; Co-Chairman of the club Sh. Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Secretary General Press Club, Jammu , Prem Sadotra, General Secretary J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu and Ms. Mitra Ghosh, a national Judge in sport climbing from New Delhi.
The main attraction of the Prize Distribution Function was Miss Shivani Charak who brought laurels to the club and the state by winning a Gold medal in the National Lead Climbing Competition at Srinagar in June and a Silver medal in the National Speed Climbing Competition at Jamshedpur in May this year.
Seventeen years old Shivani, a student of Govt. Hr. Sec. School, Domana, Jammu who was also selected in the Indian Sport Climbing team for the 18th Asian Games at Jakarta but was unfortunately dropped from the team at the last moment, was honoured with a trophy and cash prize of Rs. 10000/-
The Dedication Award for the year 2018 was conferred upon Arvinder Kaur of Oriental Academy Hr. Sec. School, Tannu Jain of MHAC School, Nagbani and Suman Lata, Director Physical Education, Govt. College for Women, Prade, Jammu for their single minded dedication and devotion to promote trekking and sport climbing in the state.
Sprawling Buds ICSE School, Bantalab was honoured with a Dedication Award of the Highest Order for outstanding services to the cause of adventure. 15 other institutions including Oriental Academy Hr. Sec. School, St. Xavier Sr. Sec. School, Barnai, M H A C School, Nagbani, Shangrila Public School,Sarwal, Jammu Shiksha Niketan Group of schools Jeevan Nagar and Gandhi Nagar, SOS Hermann Gmeiner School,Gole Gujral, Jammu, Elite Public High School, Udheywala, Jammu, National Academy High School, Udhampur, May Fair School, Jammu, J K Montessorie British School, Talab Tillo, Jammu, Amba Kids Home, Panthal; Govt. Hr. Sec. School,Domana, Shastri Memorial Hr. Scondary School, Patoli, Jammu and Shining Star High School, Muthi, Jammu were also awarded for their participation in club's various activities.
Three adventure clubs namely Shivalik Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Club, Jammu, Sunridges Trekking & Mountaineering Club, Pulwama and J&K Mountaineering & Allied Sports Club were also honored for the help and cooperation extended to the club for the smooth conduct of its activities.
However, a number of awardees could not make it to the function because of their official / personal engagements. Everester Ram Singh Slathia and Sonam Sidharth, Directors of Himalayan Trekking Programmes organized by the club, are at Srinagar and Nubra (Ladakh). Similarly, Manik Slathia and Ambreen are presently participating in a mountaineering expedition. Some upcoming climbers of the club including Deepika Dutta, Shilpa Charak, Vishali Sharma, Anukampa Sharma, Raj Kumari and Sunil Chakharia who successfully conducted various activities of the club are presently undergoing Advance Course in Mountaineering. All of them shall, however, be honoured when they reach back Jammu.
Earlier, while Ram Khajuria, President of the club, in his report, highlighted the activities organised by the club so far during the current year Shawetica Khajuria, General Secretary of the club read the welcome address. .
Chief Guest S. Bhattacharjee who is known as "the Father of Sport Climbing in India" in his address recalled his association with the club for the last over 20 years. He congratulated the club for its sustained efforts in promoting adventure activities and bringing laurels to the state by producing national champions and international climbers. "The day is not far when the club would produce an international champion" he hoped.
Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Co-Chairman of the club also lauded the achievements of the club despite the unfortunate fact that Govt. has neither provided any climbing infrastructure nor any equipment to the Mountaineering Association in J&K since its formation in 1986. He also criticized the J&K State Sports Council for not providing funds to the Association for a mountaineering expedition during the last 20 years, with just one exception, not with standing tall claims of the Govt. of committed to promote adventure activities in the state. He impressed upon the Govt. to provide a standard climbing wall and equipment to the Association to enable it to achieve the desired results.
Prominent among others present on the occasion included Rahul Sharma, Chairman, Sprawling Buds ICSE School; Vivek Chauhan, Administrator, Oriental Academy Sr. Sec. School, Mridhu Padha Vice Principal of St. Xavier Sr. Sec. School, Barnai, Jammu; Vijay Basur, Chairman, May Fair group of schools, Mala Sharma and Vasudha Khosla, Chairperson and Principal, Elite Public High School, Yogeshwar Kumar, Vice President and other members of Mountaineering Association of J&K.
However, Souvenir of the 18th J&K State Sport Climbing Championship which was to be released by Mountaineering Association of J&K in this function could not be released due to certain unavoidable reasons and shall be released shortly. |
