Women's Trans Himalayan expedition, organised by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Fit India banner, and the Indian Army, has successfully completed its 140 days of the expedition. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, felicitated the Expedition team at the iconic Major Dhyanchand Stadium in the national capital.
Mentioning the elephantine expedition undertaken by the team, Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, said: “This is a big slogan in itself, being fit at 50. The expedition has been inspirational for not just the 50-year-olds in the country but also for everyone in India. What you all have done is remarkable by all means. This is the true power of nari-shakti.”
Reiterating the Prime Minister of India’s vision regarding Fit India, Anurag Singh Thakur mentioned: “Shri Narendra Modi ji envisioned the mantra of ‘Fitness ki dose, adha ghanta Roz’. Now, we have done everything possible to live up to that vision. The challenges were steep, and the Indian Army too lent their helping hands in every step. Bachendri Pal’s leadership was exceptional.”
The 11-member team comprising women in their 50s and 60s culminated their journey at the Kargil War Memorial on July 24 to commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas. At the memorial, the team paid homage to the war heroes who achieved martyrdom in the 1999 Kargil War. The expedition celebrates India’s 75th Independence Day and is dedicated to the Central Government’s ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative.
This Fit@50+ team was led by the legendary Mountaineer, Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to summit Everest in 1984. The team consisted of women from various backgrounds such as retired corporate professionals, retired army persons, housewives, retired locomotive drivers, grandmothers, and working women too. While the youngest member is 54 years old, the eldest member is 68 years.
According to the pioneering leader Pal, the aim of this expedition was to highlight the need to remain fit and show that age is no barrier to living a healthy lifestyle and that 50 or 60 years of age doesn't mean dreams should be over.
Chanakya Chaudhary, chairman, Tata Steel Adventure Foundation and Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said: “First of all I would like to congratulate the team on successfully completing the expedition despite numerous challenges. I am in awe of their courage, strength, determination, and indomitable spirit. The objective of this expedition was to raise awareness about health & fitness among senior citizens and to set an example, especially for women, that it is possible to stay fit & healthy and to dream big irrespective of the age. I hope the expedition will inspire and motivate women of all age groups to include fitness activities in their daily lives to stay healthy. As for TSAF, we will continue to promote adventure sports in the country and inspire generations, through our unique propositioning and sustained endeavours.”