In a heartfelt ceremony at the Raj Bhawan Auditorium, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his gratitude to the officers of Civil Administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army, Air force, CAPFs, NDRF, SDRF, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, and service providers for their dedicated efforts in ensuring the successful conduct of the 62-day long Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2023.

Lt Governor Sinha emphasized the significance of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra as a symbol of ancient cultural and spiritual heritage, stating that it has not only influenced the socio-economic life of Jammu and Kashmir but also reflects the diversity, integrity, and greatness of our cultural values.

He praised the relentless efforts of various officials, including those from Civil Administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army, Air force, CAPFs, NDRF, BRO, SDRF, Medical Staff, and sanitation workers, who went above and beyond their duties. Lt Governor Sinha also acknowledged the contributions of ponywallahs, pithuwallahs, health care professionals, social organizations, volunteers, workforce, and the media fraternity in ensuring the smooth conduct of the Yatra.

Lt Governor Sinha expressed his gratitude towards the entire community and service providers who effectively handled every challenge, emphasizing that they are a source of strength and pride.

He praised the selfless volunteers who, driven by the concept of Seva, worked tirelessly to ensure the needs of devotees were met, and he commended the collective and coordinated efforts that reflected the aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir.

Lt Governor Sinha extended his thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their continuous support and guidance in making the Yatra a success.

This year's Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, which saw 4.45 lakh devotees performing Puja and darshan at the holy cave, marked the longest pilgrimage in recent times and the highest number of participants in the last decade. Lt Governor Sinha attributed this success to the dedication, discipline, and determination of Team Jammu Kashmir.

He proposed the identification of officers from various line departments willing to serve the devotees of Shri Amarnathji Yatra, ensuring their deployment for Yatra duty.

Lt Governor Sinha highlighted that the 4.5 lakh devotees would become ambassadors of Jammu Kashmir, carrying stories of transformation, peace, and prosperity to their respective states and UTs, potentially boosting tourism in the region.

“Impeccable arrangements were made on both Yatra Tracks, including the implementation of E-KYC, RFID, and prepaid systems for easy access to services. Over 50 medical facilities, 440 clinical beds, and 26 oxygen booths were set up along the Yatra route to prioritize the health of devotees. Telecom providers laid optical fiber cables on both routes, among other facilities,” he said.

A Rapid Assessment System (RAS) collected daily real-time feedback from pilgrims, with 95% rating the services as 'Good.'

The felicitation ceremony was attended by prominent officials, including Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor; Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; R K Goyal, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department; Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti Department; Dilbag Singh, DGP; RR Swain, DG CID; Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, GOC, 15 Corps; P. Mittal, Air Commodore; Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor and CEO SASB. Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj and other members of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board also graced the event.