Source: www.thaindian.com
LUCKNOW, INDIA, December 21, 2009: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is starting a toll-free helpline service in India for Hindu pilgrims and tourists to help them in booking low-cost accommodation, hiring vehicles and medical services during pilgrimages. The 24-hour helpline, which would be functional from January 2010, will be part of the VHP’s “social responsibility programs”, the group’s Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand organizing secretary Purshottam Narain Singh said.
“We believe the forthcoming helpline would immensely help Hindu tourists and pilgrims, particularly those coming from abroad, who don’t know much about the visiting place and become an easy prey for touts who charge hefty amounts on the pretext of providing accommodation, hiring vehicles and other services,” he said.
According to officials, VHP’s international president Ashok Singhal will launch the helpline during the upcoming Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, in Uttarakhand’s holy city Haridwar.