Sabarimala: Devotees' Relief Fund Introduced for Pilgrims
Pathanamthitta: A special Devotees' Relief Fund is being launched to support Ayyappa devotees at Sabarimala. Initiated by the Travancore Devaswom Board, the fund will assist families of pilgrims who die due to illness during the pilgrimage.
Devotees booking a virtual queue can voluntarily donate Rs. 5 to the fund. The contribution is not mandatory.
Currently, only accidental deaths are covered under an insurance scheme funded entirely by the board, offering Rs. 5 lakh as compensation. However, there is no provision for deaths due to health issues like heart attacks.
Following a 2011 High Court directive issued after the Pullumedu tragedy, the board has decided to offer Rs. 3 lakh from the new fund for such cases. The amount collected will be kept in a dedicated bank account under the Devaswom Commissioner and will be used solely for this purpose.
With a rising number of health-related fatalities during the pilgrimage, the fund aims to offer timely financial support to affected families and ensure better welfare measures for devotees.