The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Governor flags off trekking expedition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 28, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Governor flags off trekking expedition

Staff Reporter

Visually challenged, speech and hearing impaired and tribal students are participating in it

GREEN SIGNAL: Governor T.N. Chaturvedi flagging off the `Rotary Himalayan Trekking Expedition 2006' in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: Governor T.N. Chaturvedi flagged off the "Rotary Himalayan Trekking Expedition 2006" for the visually challenged, speech and hearing impaired and tribal students here on Thursday.

The expedition has been organised by Rotary Mysore Midtown, in association with the International Academy of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (IAMAS), Mysore, and Mysore Minerals Ltd.

After flagging off the expedition, the Governor spoke to the students and wished them a safe journey.

Speaking to presspersons later, D.S.D. Solanki, programme director and Director of Youth Services, said the expedition, "Hope", was part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the club. He said that the 21-day expedition would begin on April 30.

He also said that the members would be taken to heritage spots, including the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort, and the Wagah border.

He said that of the 36 members in the expedition, 12 were speech and hearing impaired persons, six visually challenged, and four tribal students from Hosahalli in Heggedadevanakote taluk. Eight amateur trekkers from Karnataka and Punjab and 13 volunteers are also part of the expedition.

Mr. Solanki said that the tribal students were selected from the Viveka Tribal Centre for Learning, an institution run by the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement in Heggedadevanakote taluk. The visually challenged students were selected from the National Association for the Blind. All the expedition members had taken endurance and physical fitness tests. Team acquaintance programmes were also conducted, he added.

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