Nepal introduces ID cards for all Everest summiteers

Visitors look at photos and philatelics of Mount Everest on the occasion of the Everest Diamond Jubilee celebration in Kathamndu on May 27, 2013. This week Nepal celebrates the 60th anniversary of the maiden summit of Mount Everest on May 29th, 1953 by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary. (AFP/Getty Images)

Kathmandu, May 28 (IANS): Nepal Tuesday launched a new system of providing identity cards to all summiteers of Mount Everest.

The first batch of identity cards were distributed to famous Sherpa mountaineers, without whose help scaling Mt. Everest has become virtually impossible, reported Xinhua.

“We want that all Everest summiteers, irrespective of their nationalities, live a dignified life and that you will be known for your bravery in your neighborhood and society. This purpose will be served by the identity cards,” said Tourism Secretary of Nepal Sushil Ghimire.

Ghimire was addressing a special function organized to mark the 60th anniversary of man’s first footsteps on Mt. Everest May 29, 1953, when New Zealand’s Edmund Hillary and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay scaled the world’s highest peak.

On the occasion, the prestigious Tenzing-Hillary Mountaineering Award was given away to the Everest Summiteers’ Association of Nepal for its outstanding work in the Himalayas, especially related to environmental protection and rescue and welfare of the mountaineers.

“I’m grateful to receive this award on behalf of our organisation. It has given us more energy to better our performance,” said Wangchhu Sherpa, president of the association.

Chhang Dawa Sherpa, who has scaled all 8,000 metres-plus 14 peaks of the world, received Mt. Everest National Award for his bravery and success.