Habisiyalis Stage Dharna For Being Denied Free Accommodation In Puri

Hundreds of habisyalis, intending to stay in Puri during the holy month of Kartik to participate in Kartika Brata, took to the streets in protest after the online registration portal closed unexpectedly, on Thursday.

Puri: A good number of habisiyalis (women who observe fast in the holy month of Kartika) staged a dharna in Odisha’s Puri after being denied free accommodation of the state government on Thursday.

With Kartik month beginning on Friday, hundreds of habisiyalis have started coming to the Holy Town to observe Radha Damodara Brata or Kartika Brata. Several of them, who arrived on Thursday, went to stay in the Brundaban Ashram, the accommodation provided by the government free of cost. But they were denied accommodation as they had not registered their names for the Brata online.

The government had opened its official website for the habisiyalis to register online to avail its various facilities including accommodation free of cost. The government had made announcement of opening of the website sufficient time ahead.

Puri collector Siddharth Shankar Swain had said the site will remain open from October 6 to 11. He had also said the habisyalis must file their applications during the period and those not registered online would not be provided free accommodation.

The agitating habisiyalis said they could not register online in the website as it was closed just a day after opening. Since they did not have the means to stay in any place, they demanded the government to make alternative arrangements.

On being informed about the dharna by the habisiyalis, District Additional Collector and Sub-Collector of Puri went to the spot to pacify them. They said those who have registered online would be given free accommodation on priority and those who have already arrived but not registered their names would be accommodated if space permitted.