Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, July 1: For the first time, facilities at the Baltal base camp in Sonamarg now provide food and play areas for children while their parents visit the holy cave during the annual Amarnath Yatra, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for the children until their parents return.
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A Nagpur-based NGO has launched this initiative to care for children who accompany their parents on the pilgrimage but cannot make the arduous journey to the cave. Without this service, these children would have no one to look after them during the day.
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“In 2023, the Camp Director entrusted us with a few children to care for. We took care of them and then approached the Deputy Commissioner for official permission to set up a childcare facility,” said Ratnesh Verma, owner of the Nagpur-based NGO. He added that parents now drop their children off before leaving for the holy cave darshan and pick them up in the evening.
Verma elaborated that the children enjoy their day at the facility, engaging in various activities. “Our team, which includes elderly women who assist the children with bathroom needs and elderly men who take care of other requirements, ensures the children are well looked after,” he said.
He added that spending time with these kids makes them feel connected and lessens the distance from their own families. This comprehensive support system not only ensures the safety and happiness of the children but also enhances the overall pilgrimage experience for the parents, allowing them to undertake their spiritual journey with peace of mind. “They make us feel as if we are at home with our kids. We like to take care of their needs and happily entrust them to their parents when they return from the yatra,” he said.
In addition to the childcare services, the Nagpur-based NGO introduced free e-rickshaw services in 2023 to facilitate the final leg of the Amarnath Yatra. These e-rickshaws are used to ferry pilgrims from Domail to the base camp at Baltal and vice versa, making the journey more comfortable.
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