Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) is turning out to be a role model for other states in crowd management. Last Tuesday, a team of Orissa government officials visited the state to get tips on crowd management, so that they could tackle large crowds at the famous Jagannath temple in Puri more efficiently. Commission of Inquiry, constituted by the Orissa government to suggest improvements in pilgrim facilitation and regulation in Puri, visited Katra to assess steps taken by the SMVDSB to regulate the yatra. The commission was headed by Justice (retd) P K Mohanty. Additional chief executive officer of SMVDSB M K Dwivedi gave a presentation to the commission pointing out the steps taken by the board, including allowing pilgrims in groups only after registration at the base camp.

A journey from the Valley to the tinsel town

This Friday, as Dekh Bhai Dekh, a comedy starring Gracy Singh and Siddharth Koirala, was released all over the country, it was a moment of glory for militancy-hit Poonch. The film has been written and directed by 28-year-old Rahat Kazmi, a native of Poonch. Prior to the release of the film, he was in Jammu to share his experiences as a film-maker. It has been a tough journey to the tinsel town for Kazmi. “Talking about films was a taboo in Poonch,” he said, adding, “I have been working on the concept of the film for the last three years. But it was in the last two months before the film was shot that I locked myself up in the room and wrote the script.” Kazmi had started his career with low-budget films. After directing Rs 6 crore worth Dekh bhai dekh, he hopes to make it big in Bollywood.

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