Kathmandu, March 19

The Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), today, distributed compensation to the family members of trekking workers, who lost their lives in the blizzards in different mountainous areas of the country triggered by the Hudhud Cyclone in 2014.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel handed over cheques to the bereaved family members amid a programme organised at TAAN Secretariat.

Though the bereaved family members had already received Rs 50,000 as funeral compensation, TAAN had not been able to provide relief amount due to delay in its release from Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) Fund of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

As per the application received from its member agencies, the 11th meeting of TAAN executive committee had decided to provide compensation of Rs 250,000, including funeral compensation, to the family members of Jit Bahadur Tamang, Lakpa Sherpa and Krishna BK of Annapurna Treks & Expedition; Lakpa Dorje Lama, Lama Pemba Lopchan, Dawa Syanga, Roman Tamang, Dawa Sidar Tamang, Som Lopchan, Wangdi Lopchan, Sanu Kaji Ghising and Aitaram Ghising of Destination Nepal Treks; Bhoj Kumar Rai, Gopal Rai and Dorje Shepra of Himalayan Explorer Treks; Pasang Tsering Sherpa of Swissa’s Mountain Way Trek; Sante Tamang of Nepal Ecology Treks; and Top Nath Lamichhane of Ammonite Adventure & Treks.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Pokharel said it was unfortunate that the bereaved family members couldn’t received the relief amount on time.

TAAN issues TIMS card, which is mandatory for foreigners to trek in the country, to the trekkers. NTB then provides TAAN one-third of the amount received in the TIMS fund.

“We have begun releasing TAAN’s share from the TIMS Fund by sorting our different technical issues. Though the relief amount is small, we are hopeful that it will be of some help to the bereaved family members,” he added.

Apologising for the delay in handover of relief amount to the bereaved family members, Rajendra Sapkota, board member of NTB, said necessary initiatives have been taken to release TAAN’s share from TIMS fund. “We are working to prepare a mechanism through which TAAN’s share will be directly deposited into its account,” he said, drawing attention of TAAN leadership toward prudent use of the amount.

Speaking on behalf of tourism workers, Suman Parajuli, general secretary of the Union of Trekking Travels Rafting Workers Nepal, said as tourism workers work in difficult environment, their insurance and other facilities should be duly ensured. He opined that insurance of trekking workers be raised to Rs one million immediately.

TAAN President Chandra Prasad Rijal said the relief amount, albeit small, will provide some consolation to the bereaved family members. He also said TAAN was working to make Nepali mountain tourism sector safe for all.