GOMBAK – The elderly and persons with disabilities will soon have an alternative to the 272 steps up the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves when an escalator is completed this year.
“This year, we will put up the escalator for the elderly and disabled devotees who find it hard to make the climb up the stairs,” said Batu Caves Hindu temple chairman Tan Sri R. Nadarajah at a press conference today in conjunction with Thaipusam celebrations.
He added that the escalator will be free of charge for devotees and tourists, and expressed hope that the federal government will allocate some funds for this.
Also at the press conference is Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, who said the Kesuma Madani programme in collaboration with the temple committee will provide various assistance and services for the one million devotees and visitors expected during Thaipusam on January 25.
This includes 200 volunteers who will assist senior citizens, women and children during the festival
Sim said the volunteers are trainees from industrial training and technical programmes who are looking to improve their communication and problem-solving skills and community involvement.
The organiser also will provide a rest area at the main tent that will accommodate 500 police, Rela personnel, and staffers from Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Alam Flora as well as volunteers.
“Senior citizens, women and children or devotees who are sick also can use the tent.”
Other programmes provided for devotees are free health screening, technical programme registration for Indian youth and Social Security Organisation housewife scheme registration.
The target is to get 500,000 housewives to register for the scheme. – January 19, 2024