No. E/122/3/2006-CH (KMY)

Ministry of External Affairs

(East Asia Division)

South Block, New Delhi,

Dated:  January 9, 2006

 

CIRCULAR FOR LIAISON OFFICERS FOR  KAILASH MANASAROVAR YATRA 2006

 

           

          The Ministry of External Affairs will be organising the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra-2006 from end May-September, 2006. The Yatra is a pilgrimage and involves Parikramas of Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake in Tibet. The route for the Yatra is along the western part of the India-Nepal border and crosses into China at Lipulekh Pass. The total duration of the Yatra is 26 days, of which 13 days are spent in Tibet.

 

2.       This year, it is planned to send about 16 batches of pilgrims, consisting of 60 pilgrims each.  The first batch is tentatively scheduled to depart from New Delhi by end May/beginning of June 2006.  Thereafter, batches will depart once every six days or so. The last batch is expected to depart in end of August / beginning of September 2006.

 

3.       The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is extremely arduous and involves trekking at high altitudes upto 19,500 feet, under inhospitable conditions.  The Indian Mountaineering Foundation has recognised the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra as a trekking expedition and it may involve high risk to the person or property of the applicant caused by any natural calamity or due to any other reason.

 

4.       Government shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to the person or property of the Yatris due to any natural calamity or due to any other reason.

 

5.       A Liaison Officer will be appointed for each batch by the Ministry of External Affairs. His / her task is to liaise with the Chinese and the Indian authorities on behalf of the pilgrims in all respects, including communication, medical requirements and air-evacuation in case of emergency.  He / she is responsible for ensuring the well-being and safety of the group.  The expenditure on travel, board and lodging of the Liaison Officer, amounting to approximately Rs. 90,000/- each, would be borne by the Department in which he/she is working. 

 

6.       Applications are invited from officers equivalent to the rank of Under Secretary to the Government of India and above in Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India and State Governments. 

 

7.       The officer should be in good physical health, medically fit and should not suffer from conditions such as high-blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, heart disease, epilepsy etc. The Yatra may prove hazardous for those who are not physically and medically fit. Selection as Liaison Officer will be confirmed only after the concerned officer passes a comprehensive medical test conducted by the ITBP hospital in New Delhi prior to the commencement of the Yatra.


8.       The officer should preferably also have past experience of high altitude trekking/mountaineering. Experience of normal pilgrimage like Vaishnodevi and Amarnath yatras will not be counted as experience in this regard.

 

9.       The officer should preferably have first-aid experience.

 

10.     The officer should be able to manage a diverse group of persons belonging to different linguistic, regional and professional backgrounds.  Detailed instructions regarding duties and responsibilities will be communicated to all selected Liaison Officers.

 

11.     Officers selected will be assigned batch-wise and are expected to do the Yatra with the assigned batch only.

 

12.     Officers who have gone on the Yatra as Liaison Officers or as a Yatri in any year prior to this year will not be considered for selection. Any wrong entry in the application form will lead to cancellation of the selection in future. The vacancy will be offered to the next officer listed in the wait-list.

 

13.     Each Liaison Officer is required to submit a detailed report on the Yatra within seven days of his return from the Yatra.  It will also be the responsibility of the Liaison Officer to collect completion-certificates from Ministry of External Affairs and distribute them to the Yatris after the completion of the Yatra.

 

14.     Applications must be approved by the Head of the Ministry/ Department and must be accompanied by necessary financial approval of the concerned Department. The application must be made on the prescribed annexed Performa. Completed applications should be sent to :

 

           Section Officer (China),

             Room No. 255-A, Ministry of External Affairs,

             South Block,  New Delhi 110 011

             [Tele : 23014900 ; E-mail : kmyatra@mea.gov.in]

 

15.     The last date for the receipt of applications is March 13, 2006.

 

 (R. Balakrishnan)

Section Officer (China)

Tel: 23014900

Fax No. 23792124

E-mail: kmyatra@mea.gov.in

To:

1.       All officers of the rank of Under Secretary and above in the Ministry off     External Affairs, New Delhi.

2.       All Joint Secretaries (Administration) in other Ministries and Departments of the Govt. of India with the request that it be circulated in their departments.

3.       All Joint Secretaries (Administration) in State Governments with the request that this be circulated in their departments.

4.       Commandant Staff (O&T), ITBP HQs., Block No. 2, CGO Complex, New Delhi.

5.       All Resident Commissioners of State Governments.