Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (MVDSB) has taken yet one more step with twofold purpose of creating a comprehensive data base for the pilgrims to the shrine and further streamlining security arrangements to avoid lapses leading to impersonation. The Board has launched a scheme of issuing Yatra Access Card (YAC) to each pilgrim, which will record name, address, photograph and other details of the pilgrim.
The number of pilgrims to this shrine is on a steep rise. This year the number of pilgrims is expected to be around 1.20 crore. This is a huge number and its handling is an enormous task. But the Shrine Board does not want to take its job casually and is determined to have in its records comprehensive information about the pilgrims. It needs to keep record of how many pilgrims visited the shrine on daily basis, what have been their starting points and the routes they adopted, and many other items. In case of some mishap, it will be possible for the Board to account for the pilgrims who might get stranded or faced with some difficult situation needing evacuation on emergency basis. The scheme has already been given a start with four counters operating at present and when the experiment is cleared, there will be about 70 counters at various places engaged in the heavy task of issuing YACs. The places where they will operate are those wherefrom the pilgrims generally begin their pilgrimage like the Jammu Railway Station, Jammu Airport, Helipad, Yatri Nivas and other points.
This is a scientific method of maintaining full record and is a welcome step. It has been taken in good time in anticipation of the great rush of pilgrims likely to be met with in coming years. However, observers have pointed out that issuing of YACs to millions of people is a Herculean task. The pilgrims have to stand in queues, get their name, address, age and details enlisted and photograph taken. They will not pay any charges for this and the Board will undertake the entire exercise. But authorities at the Board have allayed these fears saying that a private company from Andhra has been engaged to do the job as they have the expertise as they have done this kind of registration at Tirupati also. According to reports, the company claims that each registration will take just fifteen seconds to do the job. If this be the case, then the fears of people put to great inconvenience are unfounded.
The Board authorities should also envisage any attempt of impersonation made by a malevolent element will be detected and taken care of. As we know, militants and terrorists have more then once declared and even practically proved their intention of attacking shrines and religious sites. The Board will do well to find a mechanism that does not allow impersonation to happen. We do understand that Board authorities are alive to this contingency and will do whatever they can to make security foolproof. Nevertheless, the step that has been taken is expected to meet the requirement to a large extent. The pilgrims will have to cooperate with authorities and be prepared to be patient with the unavoidable process. It is more for their security than for any other purpose of the Shrine Board. Now that the experiment has been successful, the proposed 70 outlets should be made functional without loss of time.
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