Adventure camp-cum-Trekking programme for Northeast youth underway at Yuksam.

Gyalshing, October 28 (IPR): A 12-day adventure camp-cum-trekking programme for youth from the eight Northeastern states commenced at Yuksam in Gyalshing district on October 27. A total of 176 participants from eight northeastern states are taking part in the programme organised by the Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Government of Sikkim, in collaboration with the Mountaineering and Adventure Institute of Sikkim, under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India.

The programme aims to promote adventure sports, leadership, physical fitness, discipline and teamwork while fostering national integration, inter-state cooperation and cultural exchange among young people.

The inaugural ceremony was held at Yuksam on Tuesday, with Zilla Adhyaksha, Gyalshing District, Mr Ds Limboo, attending as the chief guest. Among those present were Chairman, State Youth Development Board Mr Basant Yonzon, Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Ms Yangchen D Tamang, Principal Chief Engineer Mr Milan Kumar Pradhan, departmental engineers and officials, gram Panchayat members, representatives of Sikkim Mountaineering Association and the Mountaineering and Adventure Institute of Sikkim, and officials, escorts and participants from the eight Northeastern states.

As part of the programme, a trekking expedition to Dzongri inside Khangchendzonga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was flagged off on October 28. The flag-off ceremony was attended by Joint Director (Headquarters), Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Mr Sonam Palzor Lepcha, Nodal Officer-in-Charge, Adventure Cell, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Mr Kunzang Gyatsho Bhutia, Range Officer-KNP, Mr Tenzing W Bhutia and other officials.

The participants will undertake a four-day trek to Dzongri, during which they will gain firsthand exposure to trekking and adventure activities amid the natural and ecological richness of Khangchendzonga National Park.