Registration for annual Amarnath Yatra commences

CS, Union Secretary review preparations for publicity regarding SANJY 2022

Jammu:  The registration for the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir commenced across the country on Monday with enthusiastic pilgrims making a beeline for designated bank branches to secure a permit for undertaking the journey.The 43-day yatra is scheduled to start on June 30 after the coronavirus pandemic enforced break of two years. The journey will begin from the twin routes — the traditional 48-km from Nunwan to the cave shrine from Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, and 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir.The government, this year, is also introducing a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for pilgrims to track their movement en-route to ensure their well-being.Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which manages the annual pilgrimage, has designated 566 branches across the country for the registration of the pilgrims, in addition to the facility on its website.According to SASB, no one below the age of 13 years or above the age of 75 years, and no woman with more than six week’s pregnancy, shall be registered for the yatra.

The registration has started at our branches in Rehari, Katra, Reasi, Akhnoor and Samba in Jammu and Kashmir besides 316 other branches across the country, Deputy General Manager, Punjab National Bank (PNB), Jammu Circle, Yatinder Kumar told reporters at Rehari branch here where several pilgrims registered for the yatra on the first day.He said the pilgrims have to submit an application, compulsory health certificate from SASB-designated hospitals, four photographs and a fee of Rs 120.However, those who have registered for the yatra last year, but could not undertake the pilgrimage have to deposit only Rs 20 as fees, the official said, adding that those pilgrims who have crossed 75 years of age would be refunded Rs 100 which have been deposited as registration fee with the application last year after depositing the permit slip.Kumar said each branch of PNB will register 30 intending pilgrims on a daily basis 15 each for the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal.

We are very happy over the restart of the yatra after a gap of two years we are thankful to the government, Ranjeet Singh, a local resident, said.He said he had already performed the yatra 14 times in the past from both the routes and had never faced any problem.This time, the shrine board has made additional arrangements and we are eagerly waiting for the day to have darshan’ (glimpse) of the naturally formed ice shivling,” Singh added.Besides the Punjab National Bank, the registration can also be done at designated branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, YES bank and State Bank of India.

Officials further said the registration and issue of yatra permit will be done on a first come-first-serve basis for the yatra, which will commence on June 30 with all Covid protocols in place and will culminate, as per the tradition, on the day of Raksha Bandhan (August 11).The Amarnath Yatra was cancelled midway in 2019 ahead of abrogation of Article 370 in August that year, while only a symbolic yatra was observed during the past two years due to the outbreak of the pandemic.During this year’s yatra, SASB has decided to put in place a daily route-wise pilgrims ceiling to 10,000, excluding those travelling by helicopters.The board has also decided to extend the free-of-cost battery car service for the pilgrims at the 2.75 km-long Baltal to Domel stretch.

Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta and Union Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, Apurva Chandra, today jointly chaired a meeting to review preparations for publicity to be carried out for the upcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra (SANJY), scheduled to be organized from 30th June to 11th August, 2022.The meeting had detailed deliberations on intensification of information dissemination campaigns throughout the yatra period this year for convenience of pilgrims. In this regard, several publicity activities have been planned by media units of the Union Ministry I&B in conjunction with J&K administration to be conducted throughout the period of pilgrimage.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Information Department, Rohit Kansal, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry I&B, Vikram Sahay, CEO, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Nitishwar Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P.K Pole, ADGP, Security J&K, Principal Director General (News), All India Radio, N V Reddy, Director General, Doordarshan, Mayank Agrawal, Additional Director General, Press Information Bureau Srinagar, Rajinder Choudhry, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag and other senior officials both in person and online.

Elucidating religious significance of Shri Amarnathji Yatra, Chief Secretary remarked that the holy yatra represents composite culture of J&K. This historic pilgrimage is being always welcomed in the Valley by people who shower their hospitality and generosity on the pilgrims thronging the UT.Chief Secretary said that this year’s Yatra will witness a record influx owing to better facilities and seamless journey experience for yatris.Highlighting about several initiatives launched by J&K administration for smooth conduct of yatra, Dr. Mehta said that this time we are expecting around 6-8 lakh yatris and the UT is fully prepared for the same. He added that the administration has already established a transit accommodation for yatris at Ramban which can hold around 3000 yatris.

Chief Secretary said that development ecosystem of J&K is witnessing tremendous transformation since the past few years with completion of around 51000 projects till date. He added that the physical verification and GI tagging of all works has been made possible to ensure that the works are being done on ground without any kind of corruption or malpractice.Dr. Mehta also highlighted that the J&K administration has completely moved to digital arena through e-office and all the HoDs as well as both wings of Civil Secretariat have been connected through it. He said that this has brought complete transparency in working culture of all the offices of J&K administration. He added that this unique system has also made an end to any chance of file misplacement in government offices.

Highlighting about other initiatives, Chief Secretary said that J&K administration has moved to mobile governance through ‘Our Office Your Mobile’ initiative for ease of living of citizens who can utilize different services through their mobile phones. He also added that under ‘Aapki Zameen Aapki Nigrani’, citizens can get details of their land through digital mode which, earlier, used to take months.Union Secretary I&B, while addressing the meeting, said that publicity activities are being planned by different media units of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in conjunction with the J&K administration throughout the period of the pilgrimage. He added that Amarnath Ji Yatra activities will be projected throughout the country and there will also be focus on coverage of other tourism activities in the region. “There is a need to highlight achievements of the Centre and UT administration with respect to development projects done in J&K. We need to project such positive stories about the region throughout the country to spread the message of changing environs in the region which will further boost tourist inflow here,” he maintained. He said that six to eight lakh pilgrims are expected to participate in this year’s yatra.

Nitishwar Kumar shared an overview about the preparedness for the yatra saying that “We are expecting a two fold increase in yatra this year so the administration has also put in place preparations accordingly,”. He urged upon the media units to highlight the advisories for the yatris from time to time adding that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags will be used this year to keep a track on location of the pilgrims. He also emphasized the need to thwart misconceptions being spread about the journey.Union Joint Secretary, I&B, Principal DG AIR and Director General, Doordarshan also spoke on the occasion and highlighted various activities being carried out by their respective departments during the Pilgrimage.