Now, woman mountaineer seeks govt job, financial aid after Haryana offered Rs 4 crore to Vinesh Phogat

On May 21-22, 2024, Bhatti first climbed the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, at an astounding height of 8848.86 metres, and then scaled the fourth-highest mountain, Mount Lhotse (8,516 metres).

According to Pioneer Adventure, a Nepal-based mountaineering and expedition agency, “Bhatti is the fastest Indian woman to climb two 8,000-meter mountains in 20 hours and 45 minutes.”

Bhatti tasted success after repeated failures.

In March 2024, she could not scale Mount Everest, the seventh-highest Dhaulagiri Mountain, due to heavy snowfall despite four attempts in 55 days.

In May 2023, Bhatti returned without scaling Everest despite being just 50 metres away from the world’s highest peak.

But she made another attempt to climb Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse in May 2024 and succeeded. Bhatti says she has scaled more than 20 peaks, including the world’s highest, in just five years.

Coming from a humble background, Reena works for a private company after completing her Master of Computer Applications (MCA) in 2017.

On Thursday, Bhatti took to X, raising her demand for a Group A government job and financial assistance. She also shared the letter addressed to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Bhatti first climbed the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, at an astounding height of 8848.86 metres (Express Photo)

Bhatti said, “After scaling more than 20 peaks, including setting the record as the fastest Indian woman to climb Everest, I’ve made my state proud of my achievements. Just as you have been making progressive decisions for the welfare of daughters across the state, I hope you will also recognise and support my contributions and accomplishments.”

Bhatti added, “Several other mountaineers have already been supported by the government through job opportunities, boosting their morale. I, too, seek the government to recognise my struggles. Climbing the world’s highest peak is an extremely risky task where one’s life could be at stake. Unlike other sports, it carries a higher level of danger. Therefore, the government should view the achievements in this field with the same perspective as they do for other sports and provide the appropriate recognition.”

When contacted, Haryana Principal Secretary (Sports) Navdeep Singh Virk said, “Haryana has the best policies covering all aspects of achievements in various sports. These policies have been modified and improved over time.”

The officer said, “If a sports person claims to have made an achievement, he or she must make an application in the given format, which will be processed, and a job or award will be given as per the rules.”

Bhatti says she has scaled more than 20 peaks, including the world’s highest, in just five years. (Express Photo)

The mountaineer raised the demand after the Haryana government on March 25 offered three choices to wrestler Vinesh Phogat, an MLA from Julana, under its sports policy — a cash prize of Rs 4 crore, a ‘Group A’ job, or the allotment of a plot under the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP).

A family member of Phogat told The Indian Express, “The sports policy of Haryana has a provision of all three facilities — Rs 4 crore in cash, a plot and a government job. According to the sports policy, we have applied for both a cash prize of Rs 4 crore and the plot. We have not claimed for a government job as the same was not possible in case of a sitting legislator.”