Maharashtra CM Shinde announces pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on June 28 announced the Mukhya Mantri Teerth Darshan Yojana, a new pilgrimage scheme designed for senior citizens across all religions.
This scheme aims to help the elderly people who cannot visit pilgrimage sites on their own. “The Mukhya Mantri Teerth Darshan Yojana will be available to senior citizens from all faiths. Maharashtra is the land of saints and every year many people visit the shrines. For this, a comprehensive policy will be framed for the scheme, and the government will facilitate pilgrimages for senior citizens from all religions who cannot undertake the journeys independently,” Shinde told the State Assembly.
The Chief Minister announced the scheme in the State Legislative Assembly in response to a calling attention notice by Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik, who stated that many senior citizens are unable to fulfil their pilgrimage dreams due to financial constraints, lack of companionship, or lack of information on how to proceed.
“I urge the State government to launch a scheme that includes pilgrimage sites of all religions for senior citizens,” he said.
In response, CM Shinde assured that the government would facilitate the pilgrimage of senior citizens from all religious backgrounds, helping them achieve their spiritual aspirations despite any personal or financial obstacles. The Chief Minister said that the scheme will be implemented through online applications.
Similar schemes exist in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Delhi. In Madhya Pradesh, the government provides one-time assistance to senior citizens above 60 years (with a 2-year relaxation for women) to visit a prescribed pilgrimage outside the State. Under this scheme, senior citizens receive free travel to identified pilgrimage sites in the country. The pilgrims travel by special train, and arrangements for breakfast, food, pure drinking water, stay at pilgrimage places, necessary bus travel, and other facilities are made available by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) contracted with the state government.
