Consequent to discussions with Governor N.N. Vohra, who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board Shri P.K. Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board has undertaken a detailed review of the arrangements regarding registration of Service Providers for Yatra 2016. This review has been done by involving Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) and Deputy Commissioners of Ganderbal and Anantnag districts, Secretary Labour, Labour Commissioner, Additional Chief Executive Officer SASB and seniors officers of Animal Husbandry Department.CEO informed that keeping in view the last minute rush faced during the 2015 Yatra, an effort had been made to ensure against the congestion and avoidable confusion faced at the Registration Centres in 2015, it has been decided that, as in the case of pilgrims, Advance Registration shall also be done for this year’s Yatra in respect of Service Providers – Palkiwallas, Dandiwallas, Pithoos, Poniwallas and Ponies.
This Advance Registration shall be done at Ganderbal and Anantnag for one month, from 1st May to 31st May, 2016. CEO clarified that the Service Providers and Ponies belonging to other Districts are also entitled to get themselves registered at these Advance Registration Centres, which will be jointly managed by the Labour and Animal Husbandry Departments. From 1st June, 2016 onwards On-Spot Registration of Service Providers and Ponies will be undertaken at Sonamarg and Pahalgam and this shall continue till 25th June, 2016. CEO stated that Advance Registration as well as On-Spot Registration of Ponywalls and Ponies will be carried out under one roof, jointly by the Labour and the Animal Husbandry Departments.
CEO further informed that while both the Service Providers and Ponywallas will be first registered by the Labour Department the Ponies of the Registered Ponywallas will be registered by the Animal Husbandry Department ( both during Advance Registration and On-Spot Registration) on a single performa which has been devised by the Labour Department. Only ponies which are in sound health will be registered and, further, each Ponywallah will be registered along with one Pony.
CEO informed that during 2015 Yatra 51,815 Service Providers and 13,500 Ponies had been registered and the Shrine Board disbursed Rs. 28, 20,000 to 94 Ponywallahs whose ponies died during the Yatra.CEO informed that Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board has tied up with the New India Assurance Company for providing Insurance Cover of Rs. 30,000/- against accidental death in respect of 13000 ponies to be registered for Yatra 2016. He further informed that this year the Animal Husbandry Department, in collaboration with the New India Assurance Company, will make arrangements for providing a non- invasive, animal friendly neck band to each registered Pony instead of the erstwhile practice of ear- piercing. The Labour Department shall issue laminated Photo I. Cards to each category of Service Providers, including Ponywallas.Further, the band number / registration number of the Pony will be mentioned in the I. Cards of the Ponywalla.CEO urged all the Service Providers to get themselves timely registered for Yatra 2016 and get their I.Cards issued in advance. He also urged all the Service Providers to wear these I-cards all the time during the Yatra in the Yatra area and appealed to all the Service Providers to provide good services to the Yatris.