Amarnath yatra service providers to get insurance cover

Amarnath yatra service providers will get insurance cover during the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine starting from June 28.
The decision was taken at a review meeting of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), chaired by Governor N N Vohra, which will procure Accidental Insurance Cover for the service providers including dandiwallas, pithoos and ponywallas and their ponies for the Amarnath Yatra 2014, an SASB spokesman said today.
CEO of the Board, Navin K Choudhary said all service providers who are registered with the state Labour Department before the start of the yatra would be provided an accidental insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh.

Similarly, ponies which are registered by their owners with the state Animal Husbandry Department will be covered with an insurance of Rs 30,000 per pony, he said.
This will be applicable for the entire duration of the pilgrimage, CEO said, adding that all pony owners have been asked to register their ponies with the Animal Husbandry Department after getting their animals medically checked.
The dates for the commencement of registration for various categories of service providers will be announced shortly by the respective departments.
The Governor also reiterated his earlier directions for ensuring speedy settlement of all insurance claims to ensure that those who suffered losses are quickly compensated so that they can continue to earn their livelihoods, the spokesman said.

Claims regarding the death of 88 ponies during 2013 the yatra in 2013 were settled by the CEO within a month of the conclusion of the yatra, and a compensation of Rs 26.35 lakh was disbursed to the owners, he said.