Lucknow: Girls who once ran barefoot on village pathways have proved their strength on the world’s toughest trekking expedition. In a unique initiative by Balrampur district administration, three teenage girls from state-run schools trekked to the Mount Everest base camp.
The girls left for the expedition on May 7 and hoisted the tricolour at the Everest base camp on May 17. The trio, who are now returning home, were accompanied by Hina Khatoon, handball coach from the government stadium in Balrampur.
The girls, all of them 13 years old – Nilanshu, Priyanka Prajapati, and Priyanka Upadhaya – were selected by the administration under the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign. Balrampur District Magistrate Vipin Kumar Jain said the idea was to do something unconventional that sends out a strong and inspiring message to the nation; it is the opportunity, not origin, that defines a child’s ultimate height.
Jain explained that a rigorous school-wise sports competition was organised in Balrampur to identify girls excelling in physical endurance and sports. “These government school girls from humble backgrounds performed exceptionally well and were selected for the high-altitude adventure,” he said, adding that the 17-day expedition was envisioned, curated, and sponsored by the administration.
Standing at a daunting altitude of 5,364 metres amidst the frozen, wind-swept peaks of the Himalayas, the young trio, said Jain, did far more than just complete a geographic milestone; they shattered the glass ceiling of socioeconomic limitations. These young mountaineers neither come from a background of privilege nor had early access to professional training facilities; instead, their lives were forged in the crucible of daily hard work and small-town resilience.
The first of the trailblazers, Nilanshu from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, hails from the remote Pachperwa block of Balrampur and belongs to the indigenous Tharu tribe. Officials said Nilanshu’s upbringing was grounded in simplicity and perseverance. Her father is a daily wage labourer and her mother an ASHA worker.
Priyanka Prajapati, a brilliant student from the Composite School in Ramanagara, is the daughter of a farmer. She was adjudged the best cricketer during the Balika Premier League, a flagship tournament organised by Balrampur administration to encourage female participation in sports.
Priyanka Upadhaya, a student of DAV Inter College School, comes from a modest agricultural household. Gifted with incredible physical endurance and exceptional spatial awareness, Priyanka had already brought laurels to Balrampur as a state-level handball player.
Jain said the expedition provided them with a life-changing shift in perspective and exposure. Before leaving for Nepal, their lives were largely confined to the boundaries of their respective villages and schools. “On the Everest trail, they interacted with international travellers, encountered diverse global cultures, and witnessed the professional world of mountaineering firsthand,” Jain said.
