A group of tribal youths from Maharashtra sets its sight on Mt Everest

With an aim to promote talent in various fields amongst tribal youths and as a part of the Tribal Development Departments's 'Mission Shaurya 2018' Maharashtra government is sending a ten-member group to scale Mt Everest.

These youngsters were selected as part of the Tribal Development Departments's 'Mission Shaurya 2018' to instill love for adventure sports, boost confidence and self-esteem among tribal youths.

The process began in July 2017, with school level screening of 60 students from which 45 were selected for foundation training that was held in Wardha. They were tested for ability and endurance and further 25 were short-listed and were sent to basic mountaineering course at Bhongir in Hyderabad. Of this group 18 were sent for basic mountaineering course in Darjeeling. From here, 13 were selected and sent to advanced winter mountaineering training at Leh, Ladakh. The training included acclimatisation, physical training, and treks. During this phase they scaled a height of 17,000 feet.

"The tribal community is gifted with strength to overcome adversity, they will conquer Mt Everest," said Finance, Planning and Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who is also the Guardian Minister of Chandrapur. "I am sure they would make us proud," said Tribal Development Minister Vishnu Sawara said.

A ten-member team of tribal boys and girls from Chandrapur district of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra is aged between 18-21. The group includes three girls and seven boys.

The group members are all from three Ashram Schools in Borda, Devada and Jeevti areas of Chandrapur, nearly 850 kms off Mumbai.

For the Mt. Everest attempt, the 10 youths shall be accompanied by 15 Sherpas, a high altitude expert doctor, support staff and a team manager-cum-trainer Vimla Negi-Devaskar.

After Sunday's send-off at Chandrapur, the group arrived in Mumbai on Monday. On Wednesday, they would head for Kathmandu, from where the actual mission starts.