This Non-Profit is Treating Travellers and Pilgrims on Char Dham Route Free of Cost

It is the last month for the the Char Dham Yatra, which is open from late April or early May to November, and, hence, there is a heavy influx of both tourists and pilgrims alike. "Overcrowding leads to long travel times, extended waiting periods, and limited awareness about health precautions and climate-related risks," says Dr. Praveen Kumar Reddy, the director of SVHMS, talking to Local Samosa. 

Swami Vivekanand Health Mission Society (SVHMS), which works as a non-profit organisation, has been treating the pilgrims free of cost over the Char Dham Yatra route since 2012. Started with a small dispensary in Dharmawala, a tribal-dominated village near Dehradun, Uttarakhand, the organisation currently holds 14 charitable hospitals—11 in Uttarakhand, 2 in Uttar Pradesh, and 1 in Delhi.

As per recent data from the Ministry of Tourism, India has seen a significant increase in spiritual tourism, with 1,433 million domestic tourists visiting pilgrimage spots in 2022. This marks a major rise from 677 million in 2021, while also suggesting that over 60% of total tourism in India is related to religious and spiritual travel. 

Local Samosa had reported earlier this year that such tourism is on the rise, observing that even other events - be it the nationwide event kickstarted by the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony or the fondness for Varanasi's culture, the growth of spiritual tourism had become more evident than before, especially in the north India. However, Char Dham has always been a major spiritual affair for decades. 

Recognising the lack of adequate medical facilities along the yatra route, SVHMS established well-equipped hospitals in Shri Badrinath, Shri Kedarnath, and Shri Gangotri Dhams with ICU facilities and trained personnel to manage high-altitude emergencies. As per the organisation's claim, the initiative has helped reduce pilgrim fatalities by nearly 90%, "marking a historic achievement in the region’s healthcare landscape".

"The Char Dham shrines are located in high-altitude regions where extreme weather and low oxygen levels often cause serious health problems among pilgrims. Many suffer from high-altitude illnesses such as pulmonary and cerebral oedema, severe hypothermia, heart attacks, and injuries from accidents," the director says.

Reportedly, in 2024, there were approximately 246 pilgrim deaths. 

As of yet, SVHMS has provided healthcare services across approximately 500 villages in the Char Dham region and has treated more than 29 lakh individuals to date. Primarily dependent on individual donations and CSR contributions, these health centres have also been providing livelihood opportunities to the tribal communities in and around the area.

On the other hand, during the off-season, the organisation’s hospitals offer healthcare services to underserved and remote communities across India.

Beyond hospital services, the society also undertakes community health and welfare initiatives—including medical camps in remote areas, women’s health programs, 'Swavalamban Abhiyaan' for women empowerment, and awareness campaigns on anaemia, cancer screening, menstrual hygiene, mental health and oral and head-neck cancer. "We are focusing on expanding health awareness initiatives to educate travellers about physical preparation, acclimatisation, and preventive healthcare before embarking on the pilgrimage." Looking ahead, SVHMS plans to strengthen its outreach and replicate its healthcare model across other pilgrimage circuits in India.