In a bid to send the message across the globe that Char Dham Yatra is safe for all, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has flagged off a group of differently-abled persons to Kedarnath from the Bijapur Guest House on Wednesday. They will go Kedarnath from Gaurikund on foot.
Appreciating their courage, CM said this marks the true, indomitable spirit of Uttarakhand. Handicapped people walking with artificial legs en route for Kedarnath would send the message that the pilgrimage is fully safe. “I am happy things are proving so encouraging for all of us,” CM said.
Speaking of the arrangements made along the route for a safe Char Dham Yatra, he said that our people had worked round the clock, braving the hostility of the weather to ensure that the pilgrims have a smooth pilgrimage. Roads have been constructed when boulders were slipping. Roads which were obstructed by heavy snowfalls have been re-opened, he said.
Stressing on domestic tourism, CM said its role can hardly be exaggerated. “People hailing from other States- coming to Uttarakhand in hordes would bode well for us,” he said. A hilly State like Uttarakhand often faces natural hindrances. Yatra has been interrupted in Sirobagad and lambagad on innumerable occasions earlier. “We have made fool-proof arrangements to ensure that the pilgrims do not face the least of difficulty,” Rawat said.
Travelling under the banner of Nautiyal Artificial limb Centre, seven differently- abled persons are in this group bound for the celebrated pilgrimage sites. Rajender Tawar and GC Gurung who are assisting the group played important roles in Kargil War.
Rakeshlal, one of the members of the group, had lost his leg in the 2013 disaster. Apart from this, Surjan Singh, laxmi Parsad Bahuguna, Dinesh Bijilwan and Dirender Singh will also travel on artificial legs. VK Nautiyal and Vijay Kumar are other members of the group.