Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2016

Advance Registration of Service Providers to commence on 1st May, 2016

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. 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.  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. 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  Only ponies which are in sound health will be registered and, further, each Ponywallah will be registered along with one Pony. 

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. 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.