It has been an age-old tradition that local people and Simhastha Sewa Dal serve devotees, tourists and saints during Simhastha. Simhastha Sewa Dal came into existence in organised form in year 1956-57.
Before that, Bharat Scouts and Guide, Sewa Samiti and Congress Sewa Dal served the devotees separately. It was decided to merge all 3 bodies into one Simhastha Sewa Dal in year 1956. Simhastha Sewa Dal has its elected organising committee, process to select camp officers, rules and regulations. Its booklet is also published.
Recognising Simhastha Sewa Dal in year 1980, the State Government started to arrange for them housing, food, transport and uniform facilities. Cadets of National Service Scheme (NSS) have also been taking part as members of Simhastha Sewa Dal since year 1992 and members of Nrasingh swimmers team since year 2004. National Cadets Corp (NCC) also joined Simhastha Sewa Dal since year 2016. The State Government has entrusted important responsibility of president of Simhastha Dal to Prakash Chittoda for Simhastha for third time consecutively in 2016.
Services rendered by Simhastha Sewa Dal include serving saints and seers, guiding people to their destinations, reuniting lost children with their families, every possible assistance to destitutes, giving first aid to senior citizens, disabled and patients, extension of medicare to serious patients, helping water kiosks and food arrangements, saving people from drowning at ghats and helping in firefighting operations.
They have also been giving laudable assistance in catching chain snatchers, administering eye drops to devotees of Panchkroshi Yatra, distribution of ointment etc. At present, 5 constituents of Simhastha Sewa Dal will render their services in coordinated manner. The constituents are Bharat Scouts & Guide, Sewa Samiti, Congress Sewa Dal, NSS and NCC.
Simhastha Sewa Dal had rendered laudable services during Simhastha-2004, too. Scouts and Guide's 950 volunteers held 4 camps, saved 6 people from drowning, helped in firefighting operations, prepared 50 thousand identity cards, extended treatment to 350 Yatris during Panchkroshi Yatra, admitted 166 Yatris in hospitals for treatment and distributed medicines to stop loose motions and vomiting. Sewa Samiti's 950 volunteers included in Simhastha Sewa Dal held one camp, saved 3 people from drowning and prepared 10,000 identity cards.