GUWAHATI, July 26: Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday felicitated Assam's first woman Everest summiteer, Rupamoni Gorh, at a function held at the Chief Minister's Conference Hall in Guwahati.
In recognition of her historic achievement, the Chief Minister presented Rupamoni with a cheque of Rs 10 lakh from the State Government.
Rupamoni was a member of the 11-member all-women expedition team of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) that successfully scaled Mount Everest in May. The expedition was led by ITBP Assistant Commandant Bhanita Timungpi, who was also present at the felicitation ceremony. Timungpi received financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh from the State Government.
With her successful ascent, Rupamoni became the seventh mountaineer from Assam and the first woman from the state to conquer the world's highest peak.
Sharing her experience, Rupamoni said, “It is a great feeling for me to have scaled Mount Everest. Once I was selected for the expedition, I was determined to reach the summit and worked very hard to achieve that goal. I am truly happy to have fulfilled my dream.”
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sarma said Rupamoni, a native of Na-Gaon Pathar village in the Boginadi area of Lakhimpur district, has brought immense pride to Assam through her courage, discipline and perseverance.
To commemorate her achievement, the Chief Minister announced that, on the initiative of Lakhimpur MLA Manab Deka, the one-kilometre road connecting her residence to Lilabari High School will be newly constructed and named Rupamoni Gorh Path.
Highlighting Assam's rich mountaineering legacy, the Chief Minister said the Assam Mountaineering Association, founded in 1968 by Rohini Kumar Bhuyan and Atanu Prasad Barua, pioneered organised mountaineering in the state.
He also proposed a major initiative to promote mountaineering in Assam. The State Government, would hold discussions with the ITBP authorities and, subject to their concurrence, appoint Rupamoni Gorh as a Sub-Inspector in Assam Police so that she can inspire, mentor and train aspiring mountaineers across the state.
The felicitation programme was attended by Minister of Tea Tribes and Adivasi Welfare Rameswar Teli, Lakhimpur MLA Manab Deka, Rangapara MLA and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Krishna Kamal Tanti, Special Secretary of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department K. J. Hilaly, along with a large number of young mountaineers and other dignitaries.
Assam's Everest Summiteers
• Tarun Saikia
• Manish Kumar Deka
• Nanda Dulal Das
• Henry David Terang
• Kharsing Terang
• Nava Kumar Phukan
• Rupamoni Gorh