Asifabad Tribal Women to Scale Everest

Asifabad: The odds are stacked up on one side like a mountain, but they never came in their way to choose a life of adventure. Their steely resolve substituted for the lack of specialised training and sophisticated equipment that their finances could not pay for. Yet taking one step at a time, tribal women Madavi Kannibai and Madavi Kalpana are all set to begin their journey to scale the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain peak. But the lack of adequate financial resources could prevent them from achieving their dreams.

Kannibai and Kalpana are among 20 others from across the country selected by the Hyderabad Adventure Club recently to climb the Everest. They have been offered the opportunity in wake of their earlier successful adventures of rock climbing and other dare devilry stunts that catapulted them to fame in the erstwhile undivided Adilabad, the representatives of the Hyderabad Adventure Club say.

Both of them hail from Kerimeri, a remote tribal mandal in Asifabad. While Kannibai belongs to Beemangondi village, Kalpana is a resident of Kollam Kotari. They have been pairing up since their childhood trekking hill after hill and trudging in the deep valleys of Adilabad. They staged performances by getting into the deep valley near Gayatri Waterfalls and by bagging first prize in rappelling competitions at Kataka Waterfalls in Araku Valley in Vishakapatnam district recently. The women also secured first prizes in cycling competitions held across various cities and towns in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The Hyderabad Adventure Club will train the 20 mountaineers at the base of Mount Everest starting from Monday. After a rigourous training of 10 days, the group of mountaineers will begin their journey to conquer the world’s tallest mountain peak.

Despite their unwavering confidence, Kannabai and Kalpana are unable to achieve the feat lest they fail to arrange the money required. Each one of them is required to pay Rs 1.50 lakh in addition to other expenses. Although the Integrated Tribal Development Officials from Asifabad provided Rs 1.80 lakh so far, Kannibai and Kalpana are in need of additional Rs 3 lakh to realise their dream. They are requesting generous individuals and organisations to come forward to contribute.