Mere 1/3 of Dahi Handi pathaks get insured this year

  • | Wednesday | 21st August, 2019

Less than four days left for Dahi Handi festival, only 306 Dahi Handi pathak (groups) have taken medical insurance before performing the human pyramid on the day of the festival. While last year, 963 Dahi Handi pathaks has taken medical insurance for their members, this year, the number of health insurance cover so far, has been reduced. Out of 306, around 122 pathaks have taken insurance themselves while other pathak mandals have managed to take sponsorship from other organisations or individuals." Earlier, the Dahi Handi pathaks were famous more in Mumbai and Thane region, but the number of insurance cover taken by other regions is increasing too. Bala Padelkar, chairman of the Dahi Handi Samanvay Samiti, said, "This year, besides checking the age proo, we have asked organisers to also check if the pathaks have medical insurance cover.

Less than four days left for Dahi Handi festival, only 306 Dahi Handi pathak (groups) have taken medical insurance before performing the human pyramid on the day of the festival. While last year, 963 Dahi Handi pathaks has taken medical insurance for their members, this year, the number of health insurance cover so far, has been reduced. According to the insurance company, most of the mandals approached last moment to get the insurance as they wait for sponsors to help them financially to get them insured. Speaking about the medical insurance taken so far by the mandals, Sachin Khanvilkar, spokesperson of Oriental Insurance Company, said, "Till August 19, around 306 mandals (15,014 govindas) have taken insurance cover so far. Many times, the mandals gather at the last moment to take the insurance as they wait for financial help. Out of 306, around 122 pathaks have taken insurance themselves while other pathak mandals have managed to take sponsorship from other organisations or individuals." Khanvilkar added, "We have included practice session till the next day of the festival as govindas can get injured either during the practice session, on the day of the festival as well as some mandals travel in other cities too to perform human pyramids." Around 10 mandals from Chiplun have taken insurance on Tuesday. At least 15 to 20 mandals from outside Mumbai have taken insurances in comparison to 8 to 10 mandals till last year. Khanvilkar, added, "This year, mandals from outside the Mumbai and Thane such as Dapoli, Chiplun, Kolhapur, Satara, Pune region are coming forward to take the health insurance. Earlier, the Dahi Handi pathaks were famous more in Mumbai and Thane region, but the number of insurance cover taken by other regions is increasing too. By Friday, we are accepting more than 900 mandals to take insurance for their govindas. " Bala Padelkar, chairman of the Dahi Handi Samanvay Samiti, said, "This year, besides checking the age proo, we have asked organisers to also check if the pathaks have medical insurance cover. If they don't, the orgaisers should stop the pathaks from performing."

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