A grant of INR 10 crores has been sanctioned by the Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports. It is an adventure school in Anantnag district in south Kashmir.
An official spokesman said “The Union minister announced the grant while chairing the 8th meeting of the 3rd executive council of the institute situated in Pahalgam area of the district yesterday”.
Mehbooba Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister was also present at the meeting.
“The Minister for Defense, who is also the chairperson of the executive council, directed the institute management to work in tandem with local Tourism and Education Departments for popularizing mountaineering and adventure sports among students. She announced a grant of Rs 10 crore for meeting the expenses of the institute,” the spokesman said.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister said that there is an urgent need of popularizing adventure sports and mountaineering school among the students s this will help them in understanding and exploring the state better.
The Chief Minister was impressed by the management of the mountaineering school and told the management of the school ‘being citizens of a hilly state our youth ought to be trained in mountaineering for which your institute has a greater responsibility’.
During the meeting it was also decided to introduce two new courses in paragliding and white water rafting. Each course will have 20 students. The executive council, during the meeting also gave a positive nod to change the funding pattern of the institute.
