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Tribune News Service
Jammu, February 12
To discuss issues regarding setting up of langars (community kitchens) for this year’s Amarnath pilgrimage, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) today held a meeting with the apex bodies of langar organisations — Shri Amarnath Barfani Langars Organisation (SABLO) and Shri Amarnath Yatra Bhandara Organisation (SAYBO).
This year’s annual Amarnath pilgrimage would commence on July 2 and conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandan) on August 18.
On the directions of Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, PK Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer of the SASB, held the meeting today.
The CEO told the langar organisations that Amarnath yatra-2016 was scheduled to commence on July 2 and would conclude on August 18.
The CEO thanked the langar organisations for their long-standing relationship with Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and appreciated their contribution in providing free food facility to yatris in the difficult terrain and climate in the yatra area.
He said for this year’s yatra, 116 langar organisations would be permitted to set up langars inside the yatra area.
He said in addition to this, arrangements for providing free food to yatris en route were ensured through deputy commissioners, who would grant permissions for langars being set up in their respective jurisdictions, starting from Lakhanpur onwards.
It was also informed that for this year’s yatra, no new organisation would be considered for setting up langar inside the yatra area.
While recognising the efforts of langar organisations in providing safe and quality free food to yatris, the CEO urged them to ensure cleanliness in the yatra area and maintain proper hygiene.
He urged the langar organisations to ensure against the use of polythene in the yatra area and assist the Shrine Board in its endeavour to preserve the ecology and environment of the yatra area.
During the meeting, various issues raised by representatives of both langar organisations regarding the terms and conditions for setting up and functioning of langars were discussed.
In view of the security scenario in the state and to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims, the CEO apprised the langar organisations about the necessity of submitting police verification reports and the compulsory health certificates in respect of the “langar sewadars” to be deployed by the organisations in their langars during the yatra. It was also informed that all the sewadars would be provided with an accident insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh each.
Those who attended the meeting included Jitendra Kumar Singh, Additional CEO, SASB; Pankaj Kumar Anand, Deputy CEO, SASB; Vijay Thakur, president, SABLO; Rajan Kapoor, president, SAYBO; and other members of the langar organisations.
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