Letter to SVDK Shrine board seeking details on use of ponies on the track

 Respected Sir/Madam,


Jai Mata Di!

I had visited Mata Vaishno Devi sometime ago. I had walked to the temple during daytime and had returned back at night. During both sides, I came across a large number of ponies/horses used for carrying devotees to the temple. 
I was extremely pained to see the condition of these ponies. I found a few ponies who were vomiting or unable to take a step further or showing other symptoms of fatigue, over-use and exploitation.

I believe you have the jurisdiction to regulate the use of ponies, so this mail is written to you. In case you are not the right authority on this, please reply so that I can approach the right authority. 

I have the following questions, kindly provide reply to them: (pony and horse are used interchangeably and should be read to include all animals used for transportation on the temple track)

1. How many ponies are in service as on 5th July 2022 for transportation of devotees? Please provide data for the past 10 years if available. 

2. How many ponies are in service as on 5th July 2022 for transportation of material goods? Please provide data for the past 10 years if available. 

3. Is there any process for registration of ponies before they can be used for transportation? (yes/no)

4. What is the process for registration of a new pony? You can share any web link providing details.

5. Please provide details on the prescribed process and procedures mandating regular medical checkup of ponies?

6. Please provide yes/no if animals are tagged either using face recognition or other methods to ensure every animal is medically checked and protected from exploitation

7. Please provide details of policy on use of animals at night.

8. Please provide details of policy on maximum hours of continuous service that an animal can be subjected to and how this policy is implemented.

9. Please provide a year-wise count of ponies which have died in the last 10 years.

10. Please provide reasons for the death of ponies along with the count of ponies dying due to that reason.

11. Please provide details of all ponies registered on the track, along with name of owner and age of pony and when medical checkup was last done. You can share any weblink providing details.

12. Please provide details of medical checkup done  for each pony.

13. Please provide details of the top 10 reasons for a pony to visit the veterinary hospital situated on the temple track along with the count of ponies for that reason.. 

14. Please provide a total count of ponies visited in the veterinary hospital situated on the temple track. 

15. Please provide details of any other measures taken by the Shrine board to reduce exploitation of ponies and any other discussion/steps taken in this direction? Eg. inspection of foot hoove, neck bands, beating with sticks, holding from tail etc.

I also suggest imposition of extra tax for using ponies which can vary according to age/special needs of devotees and using that money to provide free food and resting place for ponies and for implementation of other techniques like tagging/face detection to identify ponies and streamlining of the process. There should also be a plan to eventually phase out usage of ponies by making it less profitable for the pony owners and more expensive for devotees and providing alternate means of transportation.

Thanks.
Jai Mata Di!

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