BHUBANESWAR: Happiness of
Soumendra Mohanty (52) knew no bounds after he came to know that a special gallery will be put up for
differently-abled devotees. The polio-stricken government employee is a staunch devotee of
lord Jagannath and visits
Rath Yatra every year.
“I experience so much trouble to get a darshan of deities during the Rath Yatra as there is no help for people with disabilities. We have to struggle amidst the huge throng of crowd to get a glimpse of the lords. It is a great initiative indeed if the government will felicitate darshan of differently abled devotees,” said Mohanty.
Puri district administration has decided to put up an independent gallery over Jagannatha Ballav Matha along the Badadanda for persons with disabilities. “The independent gallery will be accessible only for persons with disabilities to ensure safe and hassle free darshan. They will be provided with food and drink at the gallery,” said an officer of the district administration. The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is scheduled to be observed on July 14 this year.
Besides the special gallery, free eco-friendly electric vehicle services between Jagannath Ballav Math and Jagannath Temple have also been launched for persons with disabilities and senior citizens by Nalco.
“For the last two years we have been taking persons with disabilities to witness Rath Yatra in coordination with other voluntary organisations. This is indeed a great support from the district administration to come forward to provide support to persons with disabilities during festivals and major events. This will help in changing the attitude of people towards differently-abled persons,” said disabled rights campaigner Sruti Mohapatra.
Official sources said, the district administration will also engage volunteers to ensure special protection for the persons with disabilities and their darshan at Gundhicha temple will also be facilitated.
