In a first of its kind initiative undertaken by any corporate so far, ONGC at a ceremony held at India Habitat Center flagged off the ONGC Everest Expedition. The journey was flagged off by Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (I/C), Petroleum and Natural Gas.
While addressing the gathering, Pradhan said that it would indeed be matter for pride for not only ONGC but also the entire nation once the expedition team comes back with flying colours. “I see future leaders in each of the expedition members, as when you counter the elements, no challenge seems too big to surmount,” he said. Appreciating the inclusion of two women ONGC executives, he added, “We look forward to welcoming you back and celebrate the spirit of success, adventure and camaraderie.”
The Minister said that such initiatives will set the benchmarks for other corporates to emulate.
CMD, ONGC, D K Sarraf said, “The expedition of this nature needs enormous courage, conviction and discipline. These are also the basic needs for a company like ONGC where we have to live with and defeat uncertainties.” He further added that the team that is going for this expedition has already displayed sheer courage and confidence and most importantly team spirit. We have also planned to train and send teams for Everest Expedition every year.
A coffee table book titled JUNGlE! The Forests of India authored by wildlife photographer Sunjoy Monga was also released by the Minister on the occasion. The book is a first that captures all the forests of India, right from Himalayas to the Andamans. ONGC has been associated with the publication of the book, which captures the rich biodiversity of our country and spreading awareness about protecting its ecosystem.
Director HR, D D Misra, who is the driving force behind this initiative, outlined various stages of training programme those have been imparted to the participants in the expedition. He said that out of over 150 employees, finally 11 have completed the stringent eligibility criteria for this programme.
The ONGC Board of Directors and senior officials from MoPNG and oil PSUs wished the Everest Expedition team the very best in this challenging endeavor.