1L aged persons took pilgrimage trip: Govt : RAIPUR

The tradition of pilgrimages is too long and old in India. Sanctity and piety are attached to pilgrimages and hence senior citizens pay due importance to visit religious places at least once in lifetime.

The Mukhyamantri Theerth Yatra Yojana was launched on January 15, 2013 and about One lakh old persons, physically handicapped and their attendants have availed the facilities by the State Government.

Many senior citizens face financial crunch during their lives and hence the Government took steps ahead to look at their dreams.

In the initial stage only citizens above 60 years old were part of the programme. But since 2014-15, physically handicapped citizens above 18 years have been added to the list of beneficiaries.

There is a provision to take the eligible persons on pilgrimage on State expense at least once in a life-time.

It has assumed a vital role in the life of eligible persons . About 1,000 persons travel in one tour with their attendants in tow in special trains. The atmosphere is festive all along the journey as the passengers belong to same State.

Mukhymantri Theerth Yatra Yojana has taken about 1.17 lakh pilgrims to various parts of the country in 132 tours till August 2015. Three tours had been organised for Physically Handicapped persons exclusively. Breakfast and meals are provided free of cost during the entire tour.

Security is taken care of the senior citizens and physically handicapped persons. An attendant is allowed with the handicapped person.

Similarly a senior citizen above 65 years of age is also allowed to take an attendant along with him. Attendants are also provided with all the facilities.

If one of the spouses is selected then he/she can take another life partner along with her/him.

The pilgrimage places include Mathura, Janmabhoomi Brindavan , Ganga Sagar , Birla Mandir, Kaalighat, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Nalanda, Tirupati, Madurai, Rameshwaram, Vaishnidevi, Raghunath Mandir, Baghebahu, Baba Baidyanath Dham, Bajrangbali Mandir, Anukulan Thakur Ji Mandir, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Ajmer Sharif, Pushkar, Agra (Chishti ka Dargah), Amritsar Golden Temple, Sravana Belagola, Vellanki Church, Puri, Bhubaneshwar, Konark, Dwaraka, Somnath, Nageshwar, Shirdi, Shanisinnapur, Trimbakeshwar, Hardwar, Rishikesh and Bharat Mata Mandir.


Source : The Pioneer , 10th Oct 2015