Free Medical Check-Up For Elderly At The Shravan Kumbh: Know Details

Kumbh Mela is one of the most revered celebrations in the Hindu religion. Millions of people gather to celebrate the religious festival, take a dip in the holy water to cleanse their sins, seek blessings, and strive for salvation. Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 12 years, but it is called Maha Kumbh when celebrated after 144 years the time when celestial bodies including the Sun, the Moon, and the Jupiter - come in distinct astrological positions. This time, celebrated in Prayagraj, the Mela has seen more than 60 crore devotees visiting the city so far to take a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati.

Started on January 13, this 45-day festival is set to culminate on February 26, 2025. Now, left with just one day, many more pilgrims are thronging the city. Amid millions of people swarming the Mahakumbh Nagar, the government has made some arrangements, especially for senior citizens.

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Shravan Kumbh: A Camp For The Elderly

The state Social Welfare department set up a camp at the Mahakumbh to offer medical facilities and necessities like food and accommodation to the elderly. The camp or the ashram also has a 100-bed facility for destitute seniors.

As per a notification earlier this month by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, “A dedicated medical team is available 24/7 at the ashram set up in the Mahakumbh area, ensuring that no elderly individual faces health issues. The administration has set a new benchmark in providing both spiritual and emotional peace to senior citizens on this historic occasion. This special initiative by the government at Mahakumbh not only honors the faith of the elderly but also conveys a powerful message that governance is not just about development but also about service and respect”.

The camp is run in partnership with the National Medicos Organization and the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO). In addition to the basic facilities, the camp also provides free OPD and medical check-ups to the elderly. The camp also provides assistive medical devices, like hearing aids, walking sticks, wheelchairs, cervical collars, knee support belts, etc., to seniors belonging to the underprivileged section of society.

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Shravan camp has doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Lucknow, PGI-Chandigarh, and Jharkhand to extend medical consultation and services. For diagnostics tests and examinations, there are specialist doctors as well from different states, including Punjab, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Karnataka.

As per media reports, the camp has so far distributed 1,847 assistive devices to needy seniors as part of the ‘Shravan Kumbh’ initiative in the Mela.