Nagpur- With just weeks to go for the historic Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din, the prestigious Ambedkar family has issued an urgent appeal to the Nagpur district administration, highlighting a crisis of basic amenities at the sacred Deekshabhoomi monument due to recent heavy rains.

In a strongly-worded letter addressed to the District Collector, Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar and Bhimrao Yashwant Ambedkar, the President and Working President of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and Buddhist Society of India respectively, have raised an alarm over the "severe infrastructural and logistical challenges" that could jeopardize the safety and comfort of millions of expected pilgrims.

The letter begins by reminding the administration of the profound historical significance of Deekshabhoomi. It was on October 14, 1956, that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, along with over 3.8 lakh of his followers, embraced Buddhism at this very site, marking a monumental revival of the faith in India and a powerful stand against caste discrimination.

Each year, on the anniversary of this event, millions of devotees from across India and the world gather at Deekshabhoomi to pay homage and reaffirm their commitment to the principles of equality and non-violence. A massive turnout is anticipated this year as well.

The core of the letter outlines a nine-point charter of urgent demands to rectify the rain-induced problems:

1. The main program area, where thousands congregate and stay overnight, is reportedly waterlogged and muddy. The administration has been urged to spread at least 300 truckloads of gravel or crushed stone to make the ground safe and accessible.

2.The leaders have pointed out that the rear section of the premises, a key accommodation area, has not yet been inspected by authorities, and have demanded an immediate site visit.

3. The letter calls for the setup of large, rainproof tents and temporary shelters to protect visitors from unexpected rain showers and provide overnight lodging.

4. A critical demand is the deployment of a sufficient number of clean and accessible mobile toilets near all major gathering points and accommodation zones.

5. For the schools designated by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation as emergency shelters, the appeal requests clear signage displaying the name of the responsible staff and contact details for quick assistance.

6. The administration has been asked to deploy dedicated officers and guards at all major sites, with their names and contact numbers made public. They have also stressed the need for an adequate police force for crowd management.

7. The designated area for book stalls is also waterlogged and requires immediate groundwork with gravel to function smoothly.

8. The leaders have requested the installation of prominent directional signboards at key transit points like Nagpur Railway Station, Ajni Station, and Mor Bhavan Bus Stop in multiple languages to guide visitors to essential services.

9.  To ease the travel of pilgrims, the letter suggests arranging free or subsidized shuttle services from railway stations, bus stops, and the airport to Deekshabhoomi.

The letter concludes by emphasizing that these measures are not merely about convenience but are essential to "uphold the dignity and importance of this national and spiritual event." Expressing their trust in the administration, Prakash and Bhimrao Ambedkar have called for "immediate attention" and the initiation of required actions "without delay."