Tata Steel Foundation honours two Odia mountaineers for conquering Kilimanjaro

~ The mountaineers, Satyabrata Das of Jajpur and Nakmani Nilima Hembrom of Rourkela, both employees of Tata Steel Foundation, triumph over Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak

~ Felicitated by Er. Pritiranjan Gharai, Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development, Skill Development, and Technical Education, Government of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Tata Steel Foundation proudly celebrated the remarkable achievements of two of its employees who are exceptional mountaineers who recently conquered the towering Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak.

On returning from the expedition, the mountaineers, Satyabrata Das and Nakmani Nilima Hembrom were felicitated for their incredible accomplishment by Er. Pritiranjan Gharai, Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development, Skill Development & Technical Education, Government of Odisha at his residence in Bhubaneswar on Monday. Among others present on the occasion were Dr. Ambika Prasad Nanda, Head CSR Odisha, Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) and Allen Kim Joseph, Unit Head of Kalinganagar Tata Steel Foundation, along with other senior officials of TSF.

Nakmani Nilima and Satyabrata scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, an imposing mountain in Tanzania, Africa that soars to an impressive height of 5,895 meters (19,340 feet). While, Satyabrata Das working as Dairy Development Coordinator, TSF belongs to Kumbhir Gadia in the Danagadi block of Jajpur district, Nakmani Nilima Hembrom working as Manager, TSF belongs to Rourkela.

Extending his heartfelt congratulations to the mountaineers, Er. Pritiranjan Gharai, Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development, Skill Development & Technical Education, Government of Odisha said, “I am confident that in the days to come, Satyabrata and Nilima will scale Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, and bring great pride to Odisha.”

Reflecting on his journey, Satyabrata Das says, “Mountaineering is my passion. Over the past 12 years, I’ve conquered a remarkable series of peaks including Renock Peak (17,000 ft), Stok Kangri (20,187 ft), Johnny Peak (18,000 ft), Mount Satopanth (23,212 ft), Kabru Dome Base (21,000 ft), and Mount Kanamo (19,600 ft). In 2024, I am aiming at conquering Mount Everest.”

Sharing her experience, Nakmani Nilima Hembrom, says, “This is the greatest accomplishment of my life. Over the past decade, I have dedicated myself to the sport of mountaineering. My next goals are to conquer Stok Kangri, the highest mountain in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, standing at 6,153 meters (20,187 feet), and to scale Mountain Aconcagua in South America.”

Tata Steel Foundation has played a pivotal role in promoting mountaineering in the Jajpur district of Odisha. Since 2009, over 800 young individuals have taken up mountaineering through various courses. This effort has led to the formation of ‘Kalinganagar Mountaineering Group’, with 12 dedicated climbers organising expeditions in the region. The foundation focuses on holistic development of the mountaineers, including skills like risk assessment, communication, and leadership. Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) has organised numerous successful expeditions, fostering a culture of adventure and fitness among the youth in the region.

Tata Steel Foundation extends heartfelt congratulations to Nakmani Nilima Hembrom and Satyabrata Das for their extraordinary achievements, setting a shining example of determination, resilience, and passion.