Devaswom to roll out insurance coverage of three lakh for Sabarimala pilgrims

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Devaswom Board will provide insurance coverage of Rs 3 lakh to Sabarimala pilgrims. For this, the Travancore Devaswom Board will provide Rs 5 lakh to form a Sabarimala Relief Fund.

A fee of Rs. 5 will be charged for virtual queue booking. The board meeting held on Thursday also decided to transfer this money to the relief fund. The board is also considering roping in sponsorship to the relief fund.

Insurance coverage will be provided for all deaths occurring on the Erumeli to Sannidhanam, Erumeli Kanamala - Nilakkal - Sannidhanam, Nilakkal - Pamba - Sannidhanam, Vandiperiyar Sathram - Pullumedu Sannidhanam routes and the forest route.

As of now, pilgrims can avail only accident insurance of up to five lakhs. This is available only for accidental deaths in Sabarimala and safe zones. During the last pilgrimage season, 37 pilgrims died due to various reasons. Of these, only 11 had insurance.

Taking note of this circumstance, Devaswom Board President P.S. Prashanth and member Adv. A. Ajikumar decided to take steps to provide insurance protection to pilgrims who die due to heart failure or other physical discomfort while on their uphill journey to the holy shrine.

The existing insurance coverage will continue. Pilgrims can avail only one insurance scheme. The scheme will be implemented before the next pilgrimage season. The High Court had directed 12 years ago to provide insurance coverage to pilgrims.