Puri Srimandir servitors to get face masks for safety against Coronavirus

Puri: In view of wide spread of COVID-19 across Odisha, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri has decided to provide face masks to the servitors engaged in service of Lord Jagannath at Srimandir.

The face masks will be given to Daita Nijog servitors as well as servitors of all the nijogs engaged for performing rituals inside Srimandir for their safety against coronavirus,” said SJTA Chief Administrator Krishan Kumar after a review meeting on welfare programmes of servitors today.

Around 5,000 masks will be prepared in coordination with Boyanika or other SHGs and it will be supplied to servitors on behalf of the temple administration.

The design for the masks will be finalised within two days, said Kumar adding ‘safety of servitors is our priority and we are accountable to keep them away from the clutches of coronavirus.”

He also informed about providing second installment of financial aid to Srimandir servitors amid COVID crisis.

“As Srimandir is shut since a long time and it has impacted the livelihoods of servitors in a big manner. In order to compensate it, earlier, we had sanctioned Rs 5000 for sevayats. Again, we have decided to sanction second installment of Rs 5,000 each for sevayats as financial assistance,” Kumar told media.

The aid will be provided to all the servitors with health insurance coverage.

“A process has been made for the servitors, who have not registered themselves under health insurance programme, as to how they will get benefits by including their names under the scheme.

Answering to a question asked by reporters on future plans for conducting Ratha Jatra without devotees during COVID-19 pandemic, Kumar said, “The construction work of chariots is underway and we hope it will continue.”