This visually impaired trekker is trying to achieve a daunting world record

Neha Naik Pavaskar, 46, is geared up for a big day tomorrow as she is all set to cross a gigantic cliff in Konkankada by doing the Tyrolean traverse, 1,200 feet above sea level. The Tyrolean traverse is a method of crossing through free space between two high points on a rope without a hanging cart or cart equivalent. Neha is visually-impaired and is attempting to break her own record of crossing Dukes Nose, which is 800 feet above sea level. She has already made it to the Limca Book of Records, after being the first visually-impaired woman to trek to KshitiDhar peak, which is 17,200 feet above sea level.

Having partially lost her eyesight to a hereditary disease at the age of 14, Neha was always quite an adrenaline junkie and was into adventure sports. In 1991, she joined Youth Hostel Association in Darjeeling, which would organise trekking trips for the visually-impaired. “Soon I had covered almost all the peaks in and around Maharashtra and realised how passionate I was about it. There is always an underlying discrimination against women, when it comes to such activities, but I have proved that not just as a woman but also as someone with visual impairment, I can do such high-risk activity,” she says.

Recalling an incident where she was victim to bias, she says that a particular training centre in Darjeeling was hesitating to include her in trekking activities. “I still went ahead and participated in everything. People ask me if I am scared, all I tell them is all I can do is have unending faith in myself. If I lose control, I know I will face death and it’s inevitable, “she says.  

She also remembers how she has had a close shave with death earlier, when she did lose her grip, but was saved in time by a fellow trekker. She says,"I call it a rebirth. It’s a second life I have been granted and it has given me new confidence to face anything.” Moreover, she has her pillar of support in her husband, Nalin Pavaskar, who has constantly been encouraging her in her endeavours. Neha has represented India in Chess for visually-impaired in England in the year 2004, won several gold medals in swimming in many competitions and practices Judo. She was even awarded by the Maharashtra Government with the Shiv Chattrapati Award for her trekking feats.

Awards won by her:
Chattrapati Puraskar in 2005 by Former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh
Rashtramata Savitibai Phule Puraskar  in 2007
National Award in 2010 by Former President Pratibhatai Patil
Krida Ratna Purskar in 2012
Godawari Gaurav Puraskar in 2014

When asked about what she feels about her daredevil act, she says,” Many people have been inspired by 60-year-old Amrjeet Singh from Kandivali, who is a visually-challenged marathon runner. I want to be an inspiration too. I had to quit studies at a young age because of my failing eyesight, today I have managed to turn my drawback into something that people will remember me for.”

This article was published on iamin.in. For more such hyperlocal stories, visit their website.