NAKODA TEERTH, NEEDS BETTER MAINTENANCE

NAKODA TEERTH, RAJSTHAN NEEDS BETTER MAINTENANCE

Nakoda Teerth is no less of importance for entire Swetamber Jain Community than Badrinath / Kedarnath to Hindu’s, Jerusalem to Christens and Makka Madina to Muslims etc. This auspicious and highly respected and believed teerth is situated in hills near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The place is visited by lakhs of dedicated pilgrims and devotees ( BOTH JAINS AND NON-JAINS) from all over the world. In fact most of the people repeatedly visit and consider it to be no less then Vaishno Devi and Tirupati for Hindu's. The number of people visiting and staying overnight is increasing year after year. Considering the requirements of infrastructural facilities in the temple complex some development have also taken place.

But if we look at the expectation of today’s generation, the facilities available are hardly satisfactory. Immediate attention is required to paid in the following areas.

1. Basic Sanitary Facilities: - Most of the toilets are extremely dirty and unusable. As local people are not available for the job, management can give Sanitary Contract to established organization like “Sulabh International” etc.

2. Water Problem: - Water is really scarce in the area. Substantial amount is paid for arranging water through contactors. This is not a permanent solutions. Since, the management has adequate financial resources problem can be permanently resolved. First method, could be, deep water tube wells in nearby areas. Secondly, the Government can be approached to provide exclusive water supply line for the temple. Plenty of potable water is available within 50 to 100 Km. radius of the temple. Nearby villages have fertile and agricultural land. Temple management can approach and compel State Government to solve this problem. Jain Community is very strong both politically and financially. If at all required, temple funds can also be used for water project. Thirdly, now a days it is also possible to install water treatment plant for the improvement of water quality.

3. Local People: - Temple should create self employment avenues for local people. Whatever educational facilities exist, need modernization and improvement. This can be done on the lines of “Sai Baba” town in south.

4. Health Facilities: - Technically, there is no medical aid available in the area. What is sometimes available is just one retired doctor without any supporting staff. Temple should request some community member to run at least 20 bed hospital and it should also be open to local population. Once again money is not an issue at temple.

5. Bhojanshala: - Grand Building is used for the purpose. But again the management is extremely poor. The place gets dirty, toilets are always stinking, wash basins are choked, Utensils not properly washed, food quality which used to be great a few years before, has substantially deteriorated. I feel present food charges are reasonable but if required these can be increased to bring improvements.

6. Dharmashala: - Number of room have been added but maintenance is poor. A lot can be learnt from Pawapuri Temple which is not very far away from this place.

7. Temple Building: - In view of ever increasing number of people to the temple, it is important to provide separate entry and exit gates in the main temple. Present entrance is very small and used for both entry and exit. This is an emergency requirement as temple is fully packed at the time of “Aarti".

8. Security: - Number of plain clothes security guards should be appointed, Cameras can also placed at critical points. Safe deposit vaults facility can also be provided.

9. Vehicle Parking: - Parking lots for all types of vehicles should be identified and structured. Presently it is chaotic, disorganized and unsafe for visitors.

10. Shops Out Side Temple Gate: - A few shops can be nicely constructed with in temple premises and allotted. Existing shops are spoiling the aesthetic look of the front gate of the temple.

11. Ornamentation of Surroundings Hills: - Some kind of plantation of on hills suitable to the environment and climate will improve the visual look of the place.

12. Staff Training: - All the employees working in the temple complex should be in uniform and carry name card with designation etc. Proper job training should also given to the employees. There salaries and allowance should be structured and transparent. Individual tipping should be restricted.

13. Temple Accounts: - Copy of temple accounts should be made public for better transparency. Cash handling procedure can be reviewed. Auditor’s can also be rotated. Besides, Statutory Auditor’s should also issue separately a long form report about the working of the trust and irregularities noticed during the year procedural checks.

Besides above there are many other smaller issues where attention can be paid to make the visitors comfortable. Each one of us is blessed by this Teerth and we have a duty to do this. I request the esteemed members of the management committee to consider my suggestions and make an attempt to implement them wherever possible. I look forward to have your response on this subject. Should you need any further information or my services in this regard you can always call me on (Anil Jain ) 98- 100-46108. E-Mail:tjaindia@gmail.com