Srinagar
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has stressed the need for popularising adventure sports and mountaineering among the school children so that they can understand and explore the state in a
better way.
Chairing the 8th meeting of 3rd Executive Council of Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering (JIM) and Winter Sports along with Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, Mehbooba, spokesman said impressed upon the management of the mountaineering school to undertake visits to schools and colleges and create interest in mountaineering among the students.
“Being citizens of a hilly state our youth ought to be trained in mountaineering for which your institute has a greater responsibility,” she told the management of the adventure school.
The Executive Council meeting of the institute was held after a gap of 10 years. Last time such a meeting was held in 2007.
In her intervention, Minister for Defence, Nirmala Sitharaman, who is also the chairperson of the Executive Council, directed the institute management to work in tandem with the local Tourism and Education Departments for popularising Mountaineering and adventure sports among students. She announced a grant of Rs. 10 crore for meeting the expenses of the institute.
The meeting also decided to launch courses in Paragliding and White Water Rafting with 20 students in each course. Besides the Executive Council also gave nod to the change in funding pattern of the
institute. Earlier, Principal of the Institute, I S Thapa gave a resume of the activities of the institute. He said with its activities the Institute could become a catalyst in attracting niche adventure tourists to the
state.
