Flag off ceremony of Mountaineering Expedition

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Flag off ceremony of Mountaineering Expedition
Chandigarh, 12th May, 2016: In a first of its kind initiative in the country the Department of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development Chandigarh Administration in association with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation will be sending 60 specially abled and 60 women on a Mountaineering Course/ Expedition to 4 peaks ranging 5500m -6000m height in the Indian Himalayas. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India has also launched “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” Scheme for the empowerment of Women and this initiative of Social Welfare Department in conducting this course for women and persons with disability shall be a morale booster and will also help in creating confidence amongst participant Women & Persons with Disabilities of UT Chandigarh. The selections were held on the 7th and 8th of May 2016 at MCM DAV College 76 specially abled candidates and 135 women participated in the selection process which consisted of physical tests like Running and climbing the rock wall. 60 women and 60 specially abled participants have been selected by a team of experts from Indian Mountaineering Foundation. H.E Governor of Punjab & Haryana and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki flagged off the expedition today at Haryana Raj Bhawan and appreciated the efforts done by the Social Welfare Department for the empowerment of women & persons with disability. Among others present during the occasion were, Adviser to Administrator, Sh. Parimal Rai, IAS, Sh. Amit Kumar Aggarwal, IAS, Secretary to the Governor, Smt. Bhawana Garg, IAS, Secretary Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Smt. Nishu Singal, HCS, were also present.