Preparations toned down for Ramdev’s second bout

However,this year,it’s the monsoon which decided the facilities at the venue. Gone were the cooling systems,and in its place,protesters sat under a water-proof tent.

“Last year,we staged the protest in the summer and so we had to arrange for cooling systems. This year,we did not have to do that as it is quite cool due to the rains,” said Ramdev’s aide Jaideep Arya.

Organisers admitted that there was a serious shortage of drinking water. “We had requested the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to send ten water tankers but we received only one. We made do with water sponsored by several individuals,” Arya said.

Ramdev aides said compared to last year’s “spontaneous protest”,which saw the influx of “unexpected” numbers,they were better prepared this year.

Backstage,nine giant screens relaying the media coverage of the action onstage were closely monitored by a dedicated team. The screens are tuned to every major channels so organisers can catch every news on them.

Thirty teams have been formed to handle security,food,water,donation,crowd control,seating and the medical booth. Over 5,000 volunteers have been sourced from Yuva Bharat— a special cadre of volunteers affiliated to Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth. Sources said these youngsters manning the grounds were entrusted the responsibility of ensuring “proper security” for the protesters.

Arya said this cadre was earlier known as Yuva Sangathan and renamed a few days after the midnight crackdown last year.

Volunteers said groups from different states have been given different responsibilities in order to ensure better coordination. “Nearly 100 men from Maharashtra are looking after security near the stage. Similarly,a team from Jharkhand has been put in charge of seating people in the VIP section,and the UP team is looking after food arrangements,” Arvind Pawar,a volunteer from Pune,said.

In the medical tent,allopathic,homeopathic and ayurvedic medicine have been kept ready and a team of seven doctors — a GP,two surgeons,a gynecologist and three naturopaths — has been set up. All the doctors are volunteers from Jammu,Goa and Maharashtra. Over 2,000 people were treated on the first day.

“ People came with complaints like headache,dehydration and vomiting. Medicines are given free of charge for such conditions. But we do not treat critical patients,we prescribe them medicines and refer them to LN Hospital,” said Dr Suraj Kanekar.

According to organisers,nearly 18,000 people have registered to fast with Ramdev. “Anyone wanting to take part in the fast has to fill up a registration form but we discourage the ill and elderly from doing so,” Arya said.