'Sudarshanam' helping the elderly and differently-abled to have a smooth darshan

Sabarimala: 'Sudarshanam; an initiative has provided support to the elderly and differently-abled to have a smooth darshan at Sabarimala. So far, these volunteers have helped 311 people. Sudarshanam Project provides services to the elderly and differently able by trained volunteers and translators. The students of the National Service Scheme and palliative activists from various colleges are serving the project.

The Sudarshanam project was launched this month under the aegis of the Department of Social Justice and the District Administration with the aim of reuniting elderly and differently-abled people getting lost in Sabarimala. The Sudarshanam scheme provides services with the help of trained volunteers and translators. Sudarshanam project provides the service of National Service Scheme volunteers and palliative activists from various colleges. In the meantime, Sudarshanam volunteers have become a helping hand for 3390 pilgrims who have struggled due to physical disabilities.

Many pilgrims have been provided medical care through the Emergency Medical Center. The Sudarshanam rest house in Pampa has served 585 pilgrims so far. Special assistance was provided to 271 pilgrims who had to struggle in the queue for darshan. Sudarshanam Information Counter has been started in Pampa and Nilakkal. Bilingual services were also provided there. As a part of the project, the Forest Department has made arrangements for seating facilities in the forest areas.

District Probation Officer AO Abeen has testified that the Sudarshanam project is very comforting for Ayyappa pilgrims who come from other states.Sudarshanam is being implemented by the District Probation Office with the support of Devaswom Board, Health Department, Forest Department, and Police Departments.