The government should also use the latest technology-based tracking of the climbers and their activities and make verification of climbing foolproof

Two Indian police constables, husband and wife, are alleged to have morphed their photos to obtain certificates from the Department of Tourism that they have scaled Mount Everest.

This allegation has become widespread after a climber from Bangalore, Satyarup Siddantha, who reached the summit of Everest on May 21, accused Dinesh Chandrakant Rathod and his wife Tarkeshwari, of morphing their pictures.

But the Rathod couple claimed that they had conquered the highest peak on May 23.

A powerful seed of suspicion has arisen because the colour of the man’s down jacket in his solo summit photo and its colour in the couple’s summit photo are different, as are the colours of Tarkeshwari’s shoes in her individual and couple’s summit photos.

But those who know better say that it is impossible to change one’s shoes or clothes at the summit. It is also claimed that the Rathods’ photos were most likely taken at the base camp or in a studio and later cropped and pasted onto the picture of the Everest summit.

This episode has served to spoil the image of the country and the Nepali authorities. And it might also raise seeds of doubt whether one or other climber has not been able to take false credit in the past.

A thorough and impartial investigation should be initiated into this episode so that truth will come out, whether the Rathod couple and the others concerned were right or they lied. This is not a small matter as this puts at stake the country’s reputation and the reputation of adventure tourism in the country.

But until the investigation is initiated and completed, the government should suspend the liaison officer and the official responsible for issuing the certificate, as well as the permission of the Makalu Adventure Everest Expedition to operate climbing expeditions.

The certificate of successful climbing is issued after the expedition leader, the expedition-operating company, the Sherpa guides and the liaison officer attest that the climber or climbers made it to the summit.

A picture taken of the climber at the summit of the mountain is also required. Here, the certificate has been issued without the statements of the Sherpa guides. It is puzzling why the DoT officials were in such haste to issue the certificate without the formalities being completed.

As for the role of the liaison officers who are supposed to encamp at the base camp throughout the climbing period and monitor and record all the activities and movements of the expedition members, shocking facts have come out.

Most of them do not go to the base camp at all, and most of the few who go there just stay there for a day or two but take pictures of themselves there as proof of their doing duty, but very few liaison officers are reported to do their duty well.

They just get a fat amount, something around three lakh rupees, for just certifying the fact of climbing. These shortcomings leave room for manipulation by some unscrupulous people and may tend to make the certification doubtful.

These should be immediately rectified. Besides, the government should also use the latest technology-based tracking of the climbers and their activities and make verification of climbing foolproof.

DAO directive

The Kathmandu District Administration Office has once again told the dance bars, cabin and dance restaurants, night clubs (dohori snajhs) and massage parlours operating in the capital to register with it within 35 days.

It is not the first time that the DAO has issued this circular to the entertainment businesses.

The administration had also issued a similar directive to these businesses in 2014 as well. But a small number of such businesses registered with the DAO.

The DAO has warned this time that it will take legal action against the operatives if they do not comply with its directive. The directive was issued with a view to protecting employees, especially women, from sexual harassment in the workplace.

All the entertainment facilities will have to register with the DAO along with personal details of the employees/workers in a specific form provided by the DAO.

The move was taken by the DAO after receiving public complaints that these private facilities are used for other unscrupulous purposes not permitted by law.

These businesses also stand accused of exploiting women and girls who face sexual harassment at the workplace, and they are not paid well for the jobs they do.