Government hikes insurance for high altitude guides, porters, workers

The government has increased personal accident and medical insurance, and claims of high altitude guides, porters, workers and liaison officers.

"The minister level decision, on May 28, has hiked personal accident and medical insurance, and claims of high altitude guides, porters, workers and liaison officers effective from January 1, 2014, officially," according to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. "However, the agencies can implement the decision before January 1, 2014, if they wish to do so on their own."

A liaison officer will now have a minimum of Rs 800,000 insurance — Rs 200,000 hike — from the current Rs 600,000, it said, adding that a team leader and high altitude guide will have a minimum of Rs 1million — double hike — from the current Rs 500,000 insurance. "Likewise, high altitude workers will have a minimum of Rs one million — more than double — from the current Rs 400,000 insurance, whereas base camp workers will have Rs 800,000 — more than double — from the current Rs 350,000 insurance."

Local workers' insurance has also been increased by 100 per cent to Rs 500,000 from the current Rs 250,000, the ministry added. "The medical insurance of all high altitude workers, including guides and liaison officers has been increased by six times to Rs 300,000 from the current Rs 50,000," according to the minister level decision.

The ministry has also decided to include search and rescue missions of the dead bodies of mountaineers under the emergency rescue insurance. "The insurance for emergency rescue has also been hiked by more than double to a minimum of $10,000 from the current $4000," said under secretary of the ministry Surendra Sapkota, who claimed that the upward revision of personal accident and medical insurance, and claims will help increase social security of high altitude travel guides, porters, workers and liaison officers.

He also requested the concerned agencies to help implement the new insurance policy as soon as possible for the welfare of high altitude travel guides, porters, workers and liaison officers.

Octagenarian's lofty dreams shattered, Upadhayaya passes away on the way to Mt Everest

Had the 82-year-old former politician climbed the highest peak in the world, he would have set the new world record. But fate had other plans for Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya -- the first octogenarian to attempt 8,850- meter Mt Everest -- who passed on the way to Camp 1 -- at the height 6,350 metre -- from Everest base camp today afternoon.
"He was nearing Camp 1 from the base camp but suffered altitude sickness leading to his death," said Nepal Mountaineering Association president Zimba Zangbu Sherpa.
Upadhayaya wanted to prove that elderly people are also capable of climbing mountains. "Mountaineering is often associated with physical strength but one has to be mentally strong to accomplish this climb," he had said before flying off to base camp for acclimatisation on April 18.
The silver-haired octogenarian was accompanied by five guides and Sherpas to the base camp.
When he said, he would attempt for the Mt Everest no one believed him but he had been preparing himself for the ascent. Upadhayaya had climbed 6,467-metre Mera Peak and 6,160-metre Island Peak -- popularly known as 'trekker peaks' -- in the Everest region some years ago to prepare himself to attempt the highest peak in the world. He had also undergone a series of training exercises.
Min Bahadur Sherchan, who climbed the peak at age of 76 in 2008, holds the world record of climbing the highest peak at the oldest age. Upadhayaya would have beat him, had he been successful in climbing Mt Everest.
A well-known politician Upadhayaya was born in Banares in India. He joined the Indian National Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 to fight against the British rulers.
He joined the Communist Party of Nepal in 1950 but later joined the Panchayat politics. He also served as Nepal's ambassador to the UN from 1972 to 1978 and became Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1990.