IISM Gulmarg completes first ski course

Srinagar, January 05: In an impressive graduation ceremony, Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) concluded its first ski course. The two week course commenced on 23 Dec and concluded today. Shri Mohd Abbas Wani, MLA Gulmarg was the chief guest and Shri Nitin Kumar, Director Finance, Ministry of Tourism the guest of honour.
Shri J S Dhillon, Principal, IISM, welcomed the guests and briefed them about the various activities of the Institute. He said IISM trains nearly 500 students in skiing skills in every winter. These trainees come from various parts of the country including J&K. He said that the Institute not only develops adventure skills in the students but also serves as a platform to integrate Kashmiri youth with the rest of the Country.
The Principal informed the gathering that the Institute also takes active part in national skiing events and its young athletes have won many medals at national levels. IISM sponsors many local youth free of cost for such training from the remote areas. He added that IISM has a new centrally heated building where all comforts are provided to the students, and it is one of the best in South East Asia.
Shri Mohd Abbas Wani said that he felt proud to be part of this Institute and had played vital role to revive this Institute after the turmoil. He requested Shri Nitin Kumar to look into all aspects of its revival so that it could run adventure courses throughout the year. He also emphasized the need to revive IISM infrastructure such as chairlift and ski lift. He said such institutes are very necessary to develop the personality of our youth and promote adventure tourism in the country. He himself being a diehard skier assured the Institute of all out help from the state government.
Shri Nitin Kumar appreciated the excellent standards of training and administration of the Institute during such training courses. He praised the Principal and staff for reviving the Institute despite the loads of difficulties faced by it. He said the government will soon look into all the outstanding issues of the Institute and in the near future Institute will conduct all types of courses in winters as well as in summers. Shri Abbas and Shri Nitin Kumar gave away the prizes to the trainees of different skiing events.
The Institute plans the conduct five more skiing courses in the current winter season in which students from all over the country will take part.