Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Aug 30: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board today organised several events as part of the celebration of its 31st Foundation Day.
The functions included performing of Pooja, Havan and Yagya at Bhawan, Adhkuwari, Katra, Vaishnavi Dham, Jammu and other locations in which the staff of the Shrine Board and a large number of pilgrims participated. To mark the celebration of the Foundation Day all the main buildings of the Shrine Board at various locations were illuminated.
At the culmination of these functions, Prasad was distributed among the pilgrims. Employees of the Shrine Board took pledge on this occasion to perform their duties with sincerity and devotion.
In his message, on the auspicious occasion of the Foundation Day, the Chairman impressed upon the staff of Shrine Board to work with zeal and dedication for providing continuously improving facilities to the pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
At Katra, the main function was held at Niharika Complex where special Pooja and Havan were performed. A. K. Sahu, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, Dr. M. K. Kumar, Additional CEO, other officers and staff as well as the pilgrims participated.
On this occasion, CEO gave details of various major infrastructure development projects completed and the facilities put in place by the Shrine Board for facilitation of the pilgrims. This, he said, has resulted in manifold increase in the number of pilgrims visiting the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi over the past three decades. It is pertinent to recall that the Board was formed on this day in 1986.
The CEO informed that besides taking up various infrastructural facilities for Yatris the Shrine Board has also implemented a number of projects as part of its social support initiatives to benefit the local people and the society at large. Among these projects are establishment of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul at Charan Paduka; Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and Superspeciality Hospital and Nursing College at Kakryal; and Sports Complex at Katra.
Referring to the initiatives taken by the Shrine Board to promote the interests of the erstwhile Baridar families, CEO informed that as part of its continuing programmes, the Shrine Board has provided more than Rs. 2.90 crore as scholarships to 7199 meritorious students of these families so far.
The Shrine Board has also adopted a Girl Child Scheme for the families of the erstwhile Baridars living in the vicinity of the Shrine.
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