Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu announced ₹ 3 lakh incentive to 14 students from Andhra Pradesh who scaled the Mount Everest recently.
He announced this at the felicitation function of the students by the Swarna Bharathi Trust here on Sunday. Swarna Bharathi Trust of Venkatachalam, Vijayawada and Hyderabad Chapters will present the incentive.
The Minister said that students’ feat was inspirational for others, as it was remarkable and historical achievement given that they were from Government-run residential schools.
Girls appreciated
He appreciated the girl students on their achievement in scaling the 29,029-feet Everest. Among the 14 students, four students belong to the Scheduled Caste, five from the Scheduled Tribes and another five from the Youth Services Department.
Those felicitated include Suresh Babu, Durga Rao, Vooyaka Krishna Rao, Bharath Thammineni, Satya Rao, Nagaraju Sundarana, Bodla Sagar, Saleem Eswaraiah, Chennai Rao Gajavelli, Mothukuru Dharma Teja, R. Sunder Raju, G.P. Hari Prasad, B. Rani and V. Sandhya Bhai. They had scaled the Everest in May.
First time
Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Schools Secretary Velugoti Ramulu explained that the students were given thorough training at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.
He said that it was for the first time in the world that 14 students en masse climbed the Everest. They scaled the Everest against the wind blowing at 280 km/hour and at the temperatures between minus 50 degrees to minus 60 degrees. Andhra Pradesh Youth Affairs Commissioner Komal Kishore was also present.
In a separate press release, The Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Secretary R.S. Praveen Kumar R. S. Praveen Kumar appreciated the team members for creating a world record by opening a fresh route to the summit from the North side of the Everest. Dr. Kumar said that children from the marginalized communities once again proved to the world that they are capable of achieving anything under the sky if opportunities are provided.
Dr. Kumar congratulated APSWREIS Secretary Col. Ramulu and Commissioner, Youth Services, Government of Andhra Pradesh Komal Kishore and chief coach of Transcend Adventures Sekhar Babu for making the Mt. Everest expedition a reality for the poor children.
