World record by 8 Divyangs on Siachen Glacier rare feat: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring about two Pulwama (South Kashmir) brothers in Mann Ki Baat on Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring about two Pulwama (South Kashmir) brothers in Mann Ki Baat on Sunday.

‘Pulwama brothers showing new path to people across nation’
*Trekkers include one each from J&K, Ladakh
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made special mention of Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world and showered praises on eight Divyang trekkers including one each from the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh who created world record by hoisting flag on Kumar Post situated at an altitude of more than 15,000 feet from the sea level.
In his 81st Edition of `Mann Ki Baat’, the Prime Minister also referred to the story of two brothers of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district for creating new means of employment in agriculture.
“We all know about Siachen Glacier. The cold there is so terrible that it is beyond capacity of a common person to live there. With snow spread far and wide, there is no sign of any vegetation anywhere. The temperature there dips to even minus 60 degrees celsius. A few days ago, the feat that a team of eight Divyang persons performed in this inaccessible region of Siachen is a matter of pride for every countryman. This team created a world record by hoisting its flag on the Kumar Post located at an altitude of more than 15,000 feet at Siachen Glacier,” Modi said.
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He mentioned names of all eight Divyangs who achieved this feat in Siachen Glacier including Lobsang Chospel of Ladakh, Irfan Ahmed Mir of Jammu and Kashmir, Chongjin Ingmo of Himachal Pradesh, Mahesh Nehra and Akshat Rawat of Uttarakhand, Pushpal Gawande of Maharashtra, Ajay Kumar of Haryana and Major Dwarkesh of Tamil Nadu.
The Prime Minister said despite challenges of physical ability, the feats that these Divyangs have achieved are an inspiration for the whole country and when you get to know about the members of this team, you will also be filled with courage and enthusiasm, just like he was.
“This operation to conquer Siachen Glacier has been successful because of the veterans of the Special Forces of the Indian Army. I commend the team for this historic and unprecedented achievement. It also shows the spirit of our countrymen to tackle every challenge with a ‘Can Do Culture’, ‘Can Do Determination’, and ‘Can Do Attitude”, Modi said.
He also referred to the success story of two Pulwama brothers in South Kashmir including Bilal Ahmed Sheikh and Munir Ahmed Sheikh for finding new avenues for themselves in agriculture.
“Moving beyond traditional farming, novel initiatives and options are being done in agriculture which are continuously creating new means of self-employment. The story of two brothers from Pulwama is also an example of this, The way Bilal Ahmed Sheikh and Munir Ahmed Sheikh found new avenues for themselves in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, is an example of New India,” the Prime Minister said.
Asserting that 39-year-old Bilal Ahmed is highly qualified and has obtained many degrees, Modi said he is now using his experience of higher education by launching his own start-up in agriculture. Bilal has installed a unit of Vermi composting at his home. The bio-fertilizer prepared from this Unit has not only benefited a lot in agriculture, it has also brought employment opportunities to the people, he added.
“Every year, farmers are getting about 3000 quintals of Vermicompost from the Units managed by these brothers. Today 15 people are also working in this Vermicomposting unit. A large number of people are coming to see this unit and most of them are young people who want to do something in the agriculture sector,” Modi pointed out.
He said the Sheikh brothers of Pulwama took a pledge to become job creators instead of job seekers and today they are showing a new path not only to Jammu and Kashmir but to the people across the country as well.
PTI adds: Ahead of the festival season, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged people to keep following Covid protocol and ensure that no one is left out of vaccination’s “circle of safety”.
In his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, the Prime Minister also said that common people are getting connected to digital transactions through fin-tech Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and its prevalence is increasing.
Noting that the festival season is approaching, Modi said when the whole country will celebrate ‘Maryada Purshottam’ Shri Ram’s victory over untruth, people should also remember the fight against Covid.
“Team India is making new records everyday in this fight. With regards to vaccination, the country has made many such records which are being talked about the world over,” the prime minister said in the radio broadcast that was recorded before he left for the United States for an official visit.
Asserting that every Indian has an important role in the fight against the pandmeic, Modi said not only one should get the vaccine administered when his or her turn comes, but they should also ensure that no one is left out of this “circle of safety”.
“Those around you who have not gotten vaccinated also have to be taken to the vaccine centre. Even after getting vaccinated, the necessary protocol has to be followed,” he said, urging the people to continue taking precautions.
“I hope that once again Team India will keep the flag flying high in this fight…Wishing you all, every person in the country, the best for the forthcoming festivals,” Modi said.