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Tinkesh Kaushik, 31, of Carmona, is a triple amputee who has scaled the Mount Everest base camp, an achievement for which he will be conferred the National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2024.
He will receive the award from the President at a special ceremony on Dec 3, World Disability Day, in Delhi. TOI reported in May this year that he reached the summit of success with his prosthetic limbs.
Kaushik has won the award in the locomotor disability category. He will also be honoured with the award of the ministry of social justice and empowerment on Friday for inspiring people with disabilities.
“It is heartening to find that my efforts to change the narrative for people with disabilities in India are being recognised and appreciated,” Kaushik told TOI. “I will continue to work for this cause.”
A fitness coach, model, and motivational speaker, he took up the challenge to reach the base camp to prove “everything is possible” and to raise funds for his foundation. Mental health support for people with disabilities is provided by the foundation.
Kaushik runs marathons, cycles, lifts weights, and dances. He has set several records in adventure sports. At the age of 25, he became a certified fitness consultant and delivered his first motivational talk.
On Nov 25, 2018, he entered the Limca Book of Records for being the first Asian triple amputee to bungee jump from the highest canyon swing site (160m).
In Feb this year, he founded the Tinkesh Ability Foundation to offer support and resources for individuals with disabilities to enhance their mobility, offer mental health counselling, promote inclusive fitness, and enhance accessibility and awareness.
“I am also humbled to receive the Human Rights International Award, 2024, which the All India Council for Human Rights, Liberties and Social Justice will bestow on me on Dec 10, International Human Rights Day,” he said.
