E-Paper
Poor arrangements reason for low turnout
Lack of proper arrangements for bathing and stay for women pilgrims in the Kumbh Mela area is the main cause of their poor turnout at the world's biggest religious congregation here.
Lack of proper arrangements for bathing and stay for women pilgrims in the Kumbh Mela area is the main cause of their poor turnout at the world's biggest religious congregation here.
A study conducted by Allahabad University (AU) economists has established that the number of female pilgrims visiting city from distant areas during the event too has been less as compared to those from nearby areas owing to improper lodging arrangements at the Mela site. The women are reportedly also dissatisfied with the bathing arrangements made available by the district administration at the bathing ghats.
Prof Prahlad Kumar of AU's Economics Department, who was associated with the study and also doing a comparative study of Kumbh-1989 and Kumbh-2001, said that the study was conducted on 600 pilgrims randomly selected at various locations during the Kumbh Mela-2001.
The pilgrims were asked 21 questions regarding their background, socio-economic and educational status, mode of transport, place of stay, purpose of visit and opinion about administrative arrangements for the Mela.
Prof Kumar said, "The number of female pilgrims was only 11.5 percent and majority of them came from Uttar Pradesh. The proportion of females declined with the increase in distance. However the proportion of female pilgrims from abroad was greater. The female pilgrims, who came from other states and stayed here, were not satisfied with the lodging arrangements and bathing facilities available at the Kumbh Mela."
"The study reveals that the administrative arrangements were appreciated by a large number of pilgrims, However a lot more was needed to be done to increase the number of satisfied pilgrims", said Prof Kumar.
Talking about the tourism potential in the city Prof Kumar said, "Allahabad is a place of religious pilgrimage, not a site of tourist pilgrimage. With very little offered to the tourists, they just prefer to leave the city immediately after their religious purpose is served.
The study reveals that there has been an increase in the number of international visitors to city during the Kumbh Mela but the figure is much below than other tourist cities of the country. "A little effort by the government and private agencies can boost the tourism in the city. Tourist spots should be developed so that the visitors enjoy their stay in the city", said Prof Kumar.
"Proper publicity through electronic, print media, internet, banners and hoarding should be done to highlight the places of tourist interest in and around the district. Besides, the Ardh Kumbh and Kumbh can be used as a medium for global projection of the religious harmony in the country", added Prof Kumar.
