Ace woman mountaineer Premlata Agrawal, first Indian woman to conquer seven summits of the world, wants that adventure sports should also get promoted by state government in Jharkhand. Agrawal, while talking to ‘The Pioneer’ during the launch of ‘For You’ programme by Citizens Foundation at Chamber Bhawan in Ranchi, added that an awareness regarding adventure sports has definitely increased after she conquered Mount Everest. Agrawal also has the credit of becoming the first person from Jharkhand and oldest Indian women to scale Mount Everest.
“We are not getting anything from the government. I want that the state government should promote adventure sports in Jharkhand. People will get inspired to take adventure sports as their field of interest, only if it is properly supported by the state government. People definitely are now more aware about this, but it requires a boost from the state government also,” said Agrawal.
According to Agrawal, people are now getting attracted towards adventure sports after she scaled Mount Everest as they feel that if a housewife could do it why couldn’t they.
Agrawal was encouraged by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation to take up Adventure Sports in the year 2000. Thereafter she participated in several programmes organised by TSAF including major Indian women expeditions led by Ms Bachendri Pal.
A mother of two daughters, Agrawal took the challenge of Adventure Sports with great courage and alacrity, and in the process inspired millions. Seven peaks she scaled include — Mt Everest in Asia, Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt Aconcagua in Argentina, Mt Elbrus in Russia, McKinley Peak in Alaska and Mt Carstensz in Indonesia.
Agrawal lauding the initiatives taken by For You programme of Citizens Foundation, said that the programme will be a great inspiration for all in the society where they intend to distribute happiness among the under privileged people. “My sport (Adventure sports) is full of danger for which you need a strong heart and the best exercise for a strong heart is to give happiness to others. The more you give happiness to others, the stronger will be your heart,” said Agrawal.
The main objective of ‘For You’ programme is to promote reuse of usable goods collected through various agencies and cater the people in need who want to use that stuff. Citizens Foundation will facilitate by collecting reusable goods like books, toys, bed sheets blankets woolens medicines, clothes and other household commodities of daily use and distribute them to those who need it the most.
A website and facebook page “For You” has also been launched on this occasion which will play a crucial role in supporting the cause. Various organization and association (CARDS group, MAITRI, Diwan Kunj lal lohia charitable trust, Prabhat Khabar, lAKSHYAM, Jharkhand State Bal Bhavan, lions Club of Ranchi Capital and FJCCI came forward to support the cause.
Secretary Ganesh Reddy also briefed about the program and ensured that the needy people will be reached out. “We will make all efforts that these things reach out to the needy people,” said Reddy.
President of Rastriya Sewa Bharti, Sidhinath Singh, FJCCI President Pawan Sharma along with other social activist like Bishnu lohia, Rajesh Kasera, Haren Thakur were also present during the programme.