Jammu, 12-02-2024 : Tawi Trekkers J&K celebrated its 41st Annual Prize Distribution function in a grand and very impressive manner at Amar Singh Club, Jammu, here today.
On this occasion a number of Sport climbers, mountaineers, institutions which promote adventure activities and its prominent members were honoured by the Chief Guest Sh. Saneev Verma, Commissioner/ Secretary to Govt General Administration Department. On the occasion while Anil Goswami,former Home Secretary of India was the Presiding Guest, Sh. Ashwani Sharma, former MLA and Patron of the club was the Guest of Honour.
Prominent among others present on the occasion included Patron of the Club Rahul Sharma, Co Chairman of the Club Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Advisor of the club Prof Lalit Magotra, President Dogri Sanstha Jammu; Parveen Sharma, Chairman, the citizen’s Co-operative Bank Ltd, Jammu; Shiv Kumar Sharma, former Joint Secretary J&K Sports Council; President and General Secretary of the club Ram Khajuria & Shawetica Khajuria besides other office bearers of the club and Mountaineering Association of J&K.
The main attraction of the Prize Distribution Function was Miss Shivani Charak, the top ranked women sport climber of India who has become the first ever and the only female athlete of J&K to participate in the Asian Games during the last 75 years. Shivani was honoured with a bouquet, a chunni, a memento and a cash prize of Rs. 11000/-.
Five mountaineers Sumit Khajuria, Manik Slathia, Shilpa Charak, Shashi Kant Sharma and Sonam Sidharth who scaled over 20000ft high Kang Yatse peak in Ladakh were also honoured with glittering prizes along with Wing Commander Rajesh Mukhi who trekked to the base camp of Mount Everest and also scaled Island peak (20500ft) in the Everest region
The “Narinder Singh Dedication Award” instituted in 2023 to commemorate the remarkable contribution and unwavering dedication of late Mr. Narinder Singh Slathia towards the club was presented to Vivek Chauhan, Principal of Oriental Academy Sr. Sec. School, Jammu who embodies a great spirit of self less service and passion for the club.
Sprawling Buds ICSE School, Bantalab, Jammu was also presented a Dedication Award for outstanding services to the cause of Adventure and as a token of club’s gratitude and appreciation for providing a climbing wall and an International standard Finger board besides a substantial financial support to the club for other adventure activities. Oriental Academy Sr. Sec. School, Jammu; St. Xavier Sr. Sec. School, Barnai, Jammu; Aryan Oriental Hr. Sec. School, Udhampur,Indira Memorial Hr. Secretary School, Udhampur, National Academy High School, Udhampur, Amba Kids Home, Panthal, Govt. College for Women, Parade, Jammu and PS PS Govt College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu were among the 16 institutions which were also awarded for their participation in club’s various activities along with teachers and young members of the club who escorted groups of trekkers during various Trekking Programmes and also contributed to the success of various sport climbing competitions organized by the club.
Earlier, Shawetica Khajuria, General Secretary of the club, in his welcome address highlighted the achievements of the club during the current year and thanked various agencies and institutions for their support and sponsorship.
Chief Guest Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner/ Secretary, Presiding Guest Anil Goswami, former Home Secretary of India and Patron Ashwani Sharma while addressing the august gathering stressed upon the importance of enjoying the Nature and preserving it while excelling in adventure activities. They lauded the efforts of the club to promote adventure activities and producing national and international sport climbers and mountaineers despite infrastructure and financial constraints. Ashwani Sharma assured the gathering that now there is a positive mind set in the administration towards sports which was missing earlier. He promised all possible help for further promotion of Sport climbing and mountaineering in the state.
While Vote Of Thanks was presented by Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Co Chairman of the Club the function was very nicely anchored by Arti Sharma, a senior member of the club