KATHMANDU: Engaged in physical, mental and intellectual development of children for the past 11 years, Prakash Raj Pandey sets out on an expedition to climb Mount Everest for a cause. He will raise the rights of children, and urges the Scouts from various countries to scale the highest peak of the world.

Pandey, who is associated with the Nepal Scouts as a master and trainer for the Scouts, will start his mission from Wednesday, according to Babu Kaji, secretary at Lalitpur Scouts.

Pandey was quoted in Rastriya Samachar Samiti as saying at a press conference held in the Capital today, "I will take up rights of children from top of Sagarmatha (Mt Everest). I will also help contribute to Nepal's tourism and will urge the Scouts from across the world to climb it."

The money remained of the expenditures from the total expedition cost Rs 4.5 million, will be spent on the development of children, Pandey said. He will be accompanied by a team of eight mountaineers from Nepal including Sherpas.

A permanent resident of Ramechhap, he is planning to fly the flags of the World Scout, the National Youth Council (NYC) and the Lalitpur Scouts with the logo of its golden jubilee from atop Sagarmatha. Likewise, he will also carry with him photos of four martyrs of Nepal and photo of Ramechhap.

Speaking at the event, Province 3 Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Kailash Dhungel praised Pandey on the expedition as country's pride.

Other speakers, NYC's Vice President Madhab Dhungel and Chandan Kaushik, coordinator of the national ad-hoc committee of the Nepal Scout, gave best wishes on his mission.