Committee to look into request for financial aid to climbers

The West Bengal government today laid down rules and announced the formation of a committee to look into requests for financial aids to mountaineers.
According to new rules laid down by the state youth affairs department which runs the West Bengal Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Foundation, mountaineers should not have crossed the age of 50.
All those who want to summit any peak above the height of 8000 metres should have summited at least four other peaks of 6000 metres in height during the last five years, officials said.
They have also made it mandatory to produce full medical check-up reports from either SSKM or Kolkata Medical College, both run by the government.

The government will soon form a committee comprising government officials and four well-known Everest climbers from the state.
This committee will take a decision on giving permissions for financial aid to climbers who fulfil all the criteria, officials said.
It has also been made mandatory to have insurance for family members and rescue costs in case of emergency.
Officials said in the last five years of the government, 18 mountaineers have climbed the Mount Everest from the state.