A Sikkimese mountaineer, who scaled the world's highest peak last year, and a former footballer, who captained Indian team, were awarded a Roll of Honour and a cash prize by the state government. Jigmee Namgyal, an army jawan, who climbed Mount Everest on may 23 2001, was honoured at the Republic Day in Gangtok in recognition of his achievement in scaling the highest peak.
Sikkim-born Namgyal was gifted a purse of Rs 5,000 and a Roll of Honour by Governor Kidar Nath Sahani.
Sahani also presented posthumously a Roll of Honour and a cash award of Rs one lakh to late Pem Dorjee, an ace soccer player from Sikkim, for his 'invaluable contribution to football'.
Hailing from south district, Dorjee was the first Sikkimese to have led the national football squad in various tournaments both in the country and abroad. He had played for years together in Mohammedan sporting club of Kolkata.
The posthumous Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak was awarded to rafting guide late Prem Pariyar of east Sikkim's Bardang area for saving the lives of a few tourists on the raft over a turbulent river Teesta at the cost of his own. Bureau Report