Kochi: Hundreds of Ayyappa devotees coming in groups from neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh need not carry LPG cylinder, utensils and provisions this Sabarimala pilgrimage season. In a first of its kind initiative, the Kudumbashree Mission will offer ‘Home Cooking Facility’ to pilgrimages to help them cook their favourite food all by themselves. “We’ll provide stove, provisions, gas, water and other materials needed to cook food to pilgrim groups on rent on hourly basis. They need not carry these items and more importantly should not have to cook by the road side,” said Sabir Hussain, Pathanamthitta district co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Mission.
The facility will be initially offered at Edatha-valams (resting centres) at Pathanamthitta, Kalanjoor and Vadasserikkara. “We’ve also requested the authorities to allow us to open a centre at Nilackkal, however, the nod is yet to be granted,” the official said. The Mission authorities ensured that only nominal rent will be charged for the service. “For instance a 20-litre can drinking water will be provided at Rs 20. They will have to pay a deposit of Rs 135, for the ‘drinking water can’ that can be taken to Sabarimala and upon returning it while going back, the money will be refunded,” Hussain said. A reverse osmosis (RO) plant has been set up at Pathanamthitta for the purpose.
The inauguration of the ‘Home Cooking Facility’ and the RO plant will be done on November 16. Meanwhile, the pilgrims can buy food prepared in steam from the three ‘Edathavalams’ and also from near the IOC Pump at Nilackkal. “Food-poisoning is one of the major worries for the pilgrims and the steam-cooked food articles can be had without any second thought. Such ‘Take Away’ centres will also be opened at Kalanjoor, Attikayam and Vechuchira,” he said.
The Kudumbashree workers will continue to actively participate in the no-plastic campaign being implemented in the fourth year on trot. The members station themselves at Laha and Kanamala enroute to Pamba and with the help of forest officials check vehicles of pilgrims for plastic bags. They would instead provide them with eco-friendly jute bags for free.
