National paragliding school victim of govt apathy: Jai Ram

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has criticised the Himachal Pradesh government for allowing the National Paragliding School at Bir-Billing in Kangra to remain closed for the past nine months, calling it a glaring example of official apathy.

In a statement issued today, Thakur said the premier institution, which could have been a hub for training professional paragliding pilots, has been rendered ineffective due to lack of coordination among government departments. He said Bir-Billing, recognised globally as one of the safest cross-country paragliding destinations, deserves institutional support that matches its international standing.

“The absence of a state-level federation and an authorised body to issue the International Pilot Proficiency Informed Licence has long hindered India’s ability to certify and train pilots under globally accepted standards,” Thakur said. — TNS