As part of its welfare scheme for trekking workers, TAAN (Trekking Agents Association of Nepal) has opened a clothing bank for trekking workers in Lukla, Solukhumbu. The clothing bank has 1,000 pairs of high-quality jackets, trousers and shoes. The workers can borrow clothing or shoes for a certain time by depositing a nominal fee. A seven-member management committee comprising of two leaders (central and local) each from three tourism workers unions – Union of Travel, Trekking, Rafting and Airlines Workers, All Nepal Tourism Workers’ Union and Nepal Tourism Workers Association – and representative of TAAN will operate the bank. Trekking workers have hailed this move, asserting that now they can go about their work  without having to worry about the cold.

Porters taking a breather on the busy Everest Trail

Plans are underway to open such banks in the trekking regions of Langtang and Annapurna too.