Promote adventure sports among youth; Antony

New Delhi, Oct 30 (UNI)Defence Minister A K Antony today called for promoting adventure sports among the youth.

Addressing the general body meeting of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) at Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, he lauded the institute for having played a major role in disaster management and relief.

Commending NIM for conducting specialised courses in search and rescue operations for persons not only from Defence, Paramilitary and Police forces but also individuals from all walks of life, he said its role in promoting adventure activities is praiseworthy.

He called upon the staff and instructors of the institute to make it a world class mountaineering institute. The Minister also inaugurated the new office complex of the Institute.

NIM principal Colonel M M Masur said, ''the institute, since its inception 43 years ago, has trained 18,324 nationals and 448 international mountaineers.'' Earlier, on his arrival at Uttarkashi helipad, Chief Minister Major General (retd) BC Khanduri received the Defence Minister, an official release said.

UNI