MANALI/ SHIMLA: The adventure-seeking mountaineers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali can now boldly scale peaks on six continents of the planet as this institute has joined the prestigious club of International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA).
The UIAA membership, in turn will give an hassle-free access to Indian mountaineers to climb mountains on six continents of 67 countries across the world.
ABVIMAS’s candidates can now represent India at various international climbing competitions held by the UIAA around the world.
This will help enlarge scope for budding mountaineers of Himachal and rest of India.
With over a dozen Everesters hailing from Himachal, the mountaineers will get an easy access to explore new mountaineering areas of the UIAA across the world.
Among the Everesters are Avinash Negi, director, ABVIMAS, ITBP DIG Prem Singh, BSF Assistant Commandant Ravi Kant Negi, ITBP Chief Constable Pradeep,
Even Himachal women are no far behind in scaling the roof of world- The Everest. They include Radha Devi, Dikki Dolma, Baljit Kaur and Praveen.
UIAA is a 90-member body, representing 67 countries across the world on six continents.
This membership will give fresh push to adventure sports among the young aspirants. It also help in protection of environment of the Himalaya ecosystem, said Avinash Negi, Director, ABVIMAS, Manali.
ABVIMAS added this feather to its cap on October 29, 2022. The institute was voted in as an associate member of UIAA at the General Assembly held at Banff, Canada on that day. 
We have been trying for enrolling ABVIMAS as an UIAA member over the years. We made a fresh plea with a revitalised interest, said Negi.
“We believe that this membership will help us in our aims: Giving a new professional push to mountaineering after this international recognition”, Negi said.
“We also get universal recognition to our meticulously designed training programs:, he added.
The Institute will also be partner in all efforts for environmental protection and much more, Negi said.
The membership shall be effective from January 2023. UIAA will also be useful for the institute for new skills exchange and upgradation of training techniques of world standards in the field of mountaineering, Negi said.
ABVIMAS strives to deliver best adventure training to the enthusiasts, said Negi.
“This is definitely a great step forward in our endeavour to scale new heights in mountaineering”, director asserted, who himself as an Everester.
As a matter of fact it was Harnam Singh Thakur, founder-director, husband of former Congress MP Viplove Thakur, who gave ABVIMAS a modest professional start and today it has become a rallying point for the youth of Himachal and India as a whole for mountaineering.
