Bhubaneswar: In a maiden move, the state government has decided to provide temporary shelter for 2,000 Habishialis (elderly widows who observe food restrictions during the holy month of Kartik) visiting Puri this year, sources said Wednesday.
According to sources, the government has taken the decision at a high-level meeting held here recently.
The culture and works departments, Puri district administration and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) have decided to make temporary arrangement for 2,000 Habishialis at different locations in Puri.
Due to non-availability of space near Srmandir, temporary arrangement has been planned for 2,000 people (@ 20 sq ft per person) on a pilot basis, said sources. The government observed that elderly widows are spending sleepless nights along Puri Badadanda amid biting cold of Kartik.
The government would make arrangements for 750 persons at Bagala Dharmasala while accommodation will be provided for 250 people at Mochi Sahi Square, 200 at Municipal Kalyan Mandap near Mochi Sahi and 800 at Old OSRTC bus stand (Narendrakona), the sources added.
It was decided that spot registration facility would be made available for 500 people at temporary shelter while the remaining 1,500 seats would be reserved for booking in advance. The decision regarding the charges to avail of the accommodation facility will be taken later, said sources. Males will not be allowed to avail of the arrangement, the sources added.
Each shelter would have toilet, washroom, laundry, drying space and cloak room apart from facilities like drinking water, hot water, dining space, electricity, blanket and others.
However, cooking will not be allowed on these premises, said the officials. The government would provide food or Mahaprasad to the beneficiaries either at free of cost or at a subsidised rate, officials added.
Integrated control rooms will be opened at these places to provide services of accommodation management, police, doctors, sanitary staff, water supply staff, electricity staff and fire, among others.
The government is making efforts to deploy maximum lady officers and staff to support the female devotees.
Similarly, adequate facilities will be made available for persons with disabilities. The government would rope in voluntary organisations to provide necessary assistance to the Habishialis, the sources added.
Adequate security arrangement will be put in place to prevent theft and other untoward incidents. These shelters will be under CCTV surveillance.
Further, advanced and regular health check-up would be conducted on the Habishialis, said the sources. Doctors-on-call service will be also be made available to them, they added.
The government will issue identity cards to the Habishialis staying at the temporary shelter. Another round of meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary would be held in this regard soon.
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