New NMA board assumes office

Kathmandu, Sept. 6

 The newly elected Executive Committee of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) under the leadership of tourism entrepreneur Phur Gyalje Sherpa took the oath of office on Friday.

The new committee was elected on August 23.

Outgoing President Nima Nuru said, “Whatever we have done, we did with transparency and in favour of the organisation. I hope the new team will continue on this path.”

He also suggested that the new Executive Committee should carry on the training programmes and welfare funds. “We have fixed deposits of 20 million rupees under various names, including a welfare fund allocated for scholarships to children whose parents lost their lives while working in the mountains. We have also developed the first-ever government-approved curriculum for mountaineering-related training and started offering insurance facilities at a fairly low price for NMA-registered mountain guides,” he added.

President Phur Gyalje Sherpa also pledged to continue these programmes with top priority. “We will continue these programmes with utmost priority for the betterment of Nepal’s mountain tourism and the welfare of mountain communities,” he said.

Ishwori Paudel has been elected Senior Vice President, while record-holding climber Mingma Gyabu Sherpa was elected 1st Vice President, and Bodh Raj Bhandari 2nd Vice President.

Likewise, Rajendra Bahadur Lama elected General Secretary and Chandan Thapa Secretary.  Mulal Gurung, Thupden Sherpa, Dendi Sherpa, Rinje Sherpa, Bikram Karki, Kedar Neupane, Devendra Dangol, Gokul Thapa, Madhav Kumar Dhamala, Nisha Bhote, and Diki Sherpa were elected as Central Executive Board members.

Similarly, Dawa Tashi Sherpa, Jenjen Lama, Dabuti Sherpa, and Sandesh Sherpa were also elected as Central Executive Board members from the book holder category.

The Director General of the Department of Tourism (DoT), as the government representative to the NMA Board, will complete the 27-member NMA Central Executive Board.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 September 2025.