The Uttar Pradesh tourism department is all set to launch a capacity building programme for the 2013 Mahakumbh. Under this, various groups of people associated with the Kumbh festivities, which include policemen, hotel staff, taxi or auto drivers, rickshaw pullers among other would be imparted training to attend, manage and assist tourists. The training is expected to play a crucial role keeping in mind the expected footfall of eight crore for the mega event.

"The spiritual event attracts a large number of people. Thus there is an urgent need to increase the number of service providers. There is also a vast difference in the number of volunteers available and which are actually required for the handling the large number of arrivals expected at the Mahakumbh," said an officer in the tourism department.

Manyawar Kanshiram Institute for Tourism Studies has already identified partners to collaborate with and hold training sessions in more than 25 batches starting in the mid of September. The director of the institute, Prof Manoj Dixit said, "These volunteers should be trained in the area of guiding, communication skills, etiquettes and behaviour, knowledge of mela site, protocols, tourist sites of the area, excursions around the region and first-aid."

The avenues which need to be concentrated upon, for the smooth running of the machinery being developed for the Mahakumbh includes coolies, rickshaw pullers, taxi/tempo/auto drivers, shop owners, hotel staff, vendors, police staff, home guards among others. "They would be trained in communication skills and etiquettes to assist the visitors during their stay. This would immensely help to handle the services required and expected by the tourists at the site of Mahakumbh," said Prof Dixit.

The government has also proposed to optimise the efficiency of the service providers already in the region of the Kumbh and further propose to train batches of local guides and volunteers to support the infrastructure being developed for the mega event. It may be noted that chief secretary Jawed Usmani reviewed preparations for the Mahakumbh on Thursday. Addressing secretaries from as many as eight departments, Usmani said that training of human resource was important for effective crowd management.