Government to set up mountain tourism workers welfare fund

The government is to establish a welfare fund targeting mountaineering tourism workers.

Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has decided to set up the Mountain Tourism Workers' Fund in commemoration of those Nepali climbers who lost their lives to a devastating avalanche on the Mount Everest on April 18 last year.


Speaking at a programme organised by Nepal Mountaineering Association here Saturday, marking the first anniversary of the tragedy, Tourism Secretary Sureshman Shrestha shared this information. The Mount Everest and mountain tourism are the identity of Nepal and the government is planning to launch various programme to make mountain tourism safe, he said.

Tourism Department Director General Tulasi Giri stressed that minimizing risks of mountain tourism should be the major agenda of the government. Association Chairman Ang Chhiring Sherpa said mountain tourism was very risky and the government should guarantee pension for those associated with this field.

Ankaji Sherpa, Tenji Sherpa, Ash Bahadur Gurung, Astaman Tamang, Chhiring Wangchu Sherpa, Dorjee Khatri, Pasang Karma Sherpa, Pem Tenzi Sherpa, Den Dorji Sherpa, Ang Chhiring Sherpa, Tenzing Chhoter Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Phurba Temba Sherpa, Phurba Wangel Sherpa, Chhring Dorji Sherpa and Mingma Nurbu Sherpa were those Nepali mountaineering guides who succumbed to the 2014 Everest catastrophe.

source: myrepublica,18 April 2015