Amarnath Yatra 2010
Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) to formulate comprehensive Langar Policy for Yatra - 2010

Srinagar, September 19 - Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) is on the process of formulating a new comprehensive Langar Policy for Yatra-2010, keeping in view the feedback received and experience gained during Shri Amarnathji Yatra in the past years.

The Chief Executive Officer, SASB, Mr R K Goyal, said here today that the concerns and suggestions of the organizations setting up Langars during the Yatra period would be duly taken into account before finalizing the new Policy. For this purpose, the Board is organizing an Interactive Workshop in which the concerned charitable organizations which operate Langars will participate, on 27th October 2009, at Srinagar.

“The new policy is likely to be announced by the close of this year and authorization letters would be issued by the 20th January 2010”, Mr Goyal stated.

While recognizing the role of the Langars in the conduct of the annual pilgrimage in the Himalayan region, the CEO observed that establishment of these will be allowed at various identified locations strictly as per the envisaged requirements. The Board, he said, shall rationalize the number of Langars at the Base Camps of Baltal and Nunwan, at the Holy Cave and at each of the other designated locations enroute the Cave Shrine.

The new Policy, aimed at further improving and streamlining the Langar facilities, will, inter-alia, take care of the interests of pilgrims and other stake-holders and service providers. A uniform location-specific approach would be adopted to move towards a transparent policy regime in respect of all the Langars, Mr Goyal maintained.

In a communication addressed to the organizations setting up Langars during the Yatra, the CEO has advised them not to enroll Members or receive and collect any donations for establishing Langar facility during the next year’s Yatra till they have received the Board’s permission to establish one or more Langars.