PNS | DEHRADUN
The State government should focus on safe and sustainable management of the Char Dham Yatra rather than merely counting the number of pilgrims, the founder of the Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation Anoop Nautiyal said. Launching the foundation’s report ‘Pathways to Pilgrimage’ on Thursday, he elicited focus on various aspects of the pilgrimage and its impact.
Addressing the media, Nautiyal said that he and his team compiled this report considering every aspect of the Char Dham Yatra. The 66-page report highlights 10 major findings from the Yatra and offers fresh assessments regarding the pilgrimage. He noted that while the government typically releases figures on the total number of pilgrims during the entire Char Dham Yatra, this report includes a weekly analysis of pilgrimage data for the 2024 Yatra.
The report presents an analysis of pilgrimage numbers over 28 weeks, he said. Nautiyal said that the report features a special analysis of media representation and provides recommendations for simplifying the registration process for pilgrims. Sharing some key statistics from the report he said that during the second week of the Yatra, a total of 5,63,292 pilgrims visited the Char Dham which accounts for 12 per cent of the total for the entire pilgrimage period. He added that due to the disaster on July 31, pilgrims could not visit Kedarnath from August 1 to 10. Only 7,418 pilgrims visited Kedarnath in August. Nautiyal emphasised that the report also addresses challenges encountered during the Yatra, including overcrowding, safety concerns, environmental degradation and others.
Regarding the recommendations, Nautiyal stated that the government should work on 10 key suggestions for effective Char Dham Yatra management in the State. These recommendations focus on safe and sustainable Yatra practices, paying attention to carrying capacity, enhancing disaster management preparations, improving healthcare facilities along the Yatra routes, simplifying the registration process, increasing revenue opportunities and requiring extensive stakeholder involvement. He said that the government should also prioritise local perspectives for the winter Char Dham Yatra. The government should come up with annual reports on the Char Dham Yatra based on weekly analyses and to share these findings with the public for further transparency, he added.
