Jammu, Aug 30: On Wednesday, special prayers were held to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi temple Board (SMVDSB), the base camp for pilgrims travelling to the revered temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
Anshul Garg, the chief executive officer of the SMVDSB, attended the special prayers and yagya along with other authorities, and he reaffirmed his commitment to provide the best amenities for the pilgrims.
He praised the arduous efforts of each and every foot soldier as he recounted the sacrifices made for the pilgrims’ convenience throughout the journey.
Our collective efforts have been recognised at the national level in the form of the national water award and national e-governance award, which indicates our steadfast pursuit of the mandate entrusted to us by the board, Garg said. “With Mata’s blessings, we have emerged as one of the most visited shrines in the country,” he added.
The CEO of the shrine board expressed his gratitude to the board’s chairman, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, for his ongoing support and direction, which have allowed the board to pursue a variety of initiatives for the welfare of staff members and the facilitation of pilgrims relatively quickly.
In addition, he noted, to the creation, upgrading, and expansion of noticeable infrastructural upgrades for both employees and pilgrims, cutting-edge initiatives like RFID-based yatra access cards, “panchmeva prasad/prasad counters,” and new web portals have been introduced.
Garg also listed a number of important actions for the overall welfare of the board staff, including, among other things, the promotion of a number of inactive employees and higher allowances.
The primary event at Katra took place at the Niharika Complex, where special prayers were offered by holding a “havan.” The personnel of the shrine board and the pilgrims attended the religious rites that were also held in Bhawan, Adhkuwari, and Jammu, according to an official. (Agencies)
