Dāna is a Sanskrit word that connotes the virtue of generosity or charity in Indian philosophies which alternatively transliterated as “Daana”, “Utsarga” or “Donation”. The Donation (In-Cash as well as In-Kind) is always held as a noble deed having deep roots in the Hindu Religious beliefs & customs. The feel of accomplishment, fulfillment and urge of satisfaction motivates a Devotee to donate generously. Donations are instrumental in conceiving and realizing various initiatives aimed at providing required facilities to the pilgrims such as Accommodation, Catering, Sanitation, Drinking Water, Langar, Shelter Sheds, Resting Places, Plantation, Medical Facilities etc.
Regular Donations / Offerings, made by Devotees to one of the most revered Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, form the mainstay of income for the Shrine Board. With an aim to associate such Devotees to participate in the developmental endeavours of the Shrine, various Donation Schemes were introduced in the past, which have by and large proven useful in mobilizing required finances. The registered Donors, as an acknowledgment from the Shrine, were provided certain Privileges linked to performance of Darshans. However, with the passage of time and due to increase in the overall Yatra, expectations of the Devotees, space constraints etc., the Donation Schemes were discontinued. However, lot of requests from the Donors (both existing & prospective) have consistently been received for associating them in various developmental endeavours of the holy Shrine by way of Donations, either in cash or in kind.
Keeping in view the sentiments and the feelings of the Devotees, the Board has framed a new Donation Policy called the “Donation Acceptance Policy of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board” which provides a broad framework for acceptance of Donations, both, ‘In-Cash’ and ‘In-Kind’, voluntarily made by the Devotees to the Holy Shrine. The Donation shall include, but not limited to the following:-
In-Kind Donations:
- Jewellery and high value Pooja items such as Mukut, Chhatar, Aarti, Pooja utensils etc.
- Pooja items such as flowers, fruits, Patka (used in Atka), Stotra Sangrah, Chunies, matting material, Chola, Hawan Samagri etc.
- Consumer items such as LEDs/TVs, machinery and equipments, furniture & fixtures, blankets, heaters, fans, coolers, various electrical & electronic appliances, stationery and furnishing items (towels, bed sheets etc.).
- Construction material such as Marble, Cement, Steel etc.
- Medicines and Medical equipments.
- Decorations during Navratras and other festive / religious occasions.
- Maintenance services including repairs and polish of gold ornaments, railing, queue-managers etc.
- Rendering of expertise / Consultancy services.
- Providing full or partial support to any infrastructure project by taking up construction activities directly.
- Any other Donation not covered above.
All the In-Kind Donations shall be accepted with the approval of the Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board after considering the feasibility, utility, operation and maintenance cost etc., associated with the item being donated.
No In-Kind Donation shall be accepted until it meets the quality requirements, to be assessed by Board, and is required in the normal course of Board’s activities related to Pooja or facilitation of pilgrims.
In-Cash Donations:
- Cash received in the Accounts Section of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at Central Office, Katra.
- Donation received through RTGS / NEFT / IMPS / Cheque / Demand Draft.
Cash Donations shall be encouraged over In-Kind Donations keeping in view the quality, utility and standardization of items received. Moreover, Cash Donations are also linked to limited Privileges, as a mark of recognition to the Donors. These Privileges shall be available for a maximum of 06 members of a family only (including Donor), which will remain valid for 02 years from the date of confirmation by SMVDSB. The details of various Donation Sub-Schemes & Privileges associated therewith are elaborated as under:-