Odisha gives a once-in-a-lifetime offer of free pilgrimage to senior citizens

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched the free pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens in the state. He has flagged off the first pilgrimage train to Rameswaram and Madurai from the Berhampur railway station in Ganjam district. The train is carrying more than 1000 people from 10 southern Odisha districts and they are on a nine-day tour to the religious sites in south India.
The state government would bear the complete tour expenditure of devotees inclusive of travel, accommodation, and medical expenses and it would be arranged through trains and buses.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 26 July 2016.

This scheme is based on an announcement of the state government to make available a one-time financial assistance to senior citizens to undertake pilgrimage. It was a promise of the ruling Biju Janata Dal that had also promised it in its 2014 elections manifesto. This promise has now been fulfilled.
Thee are plans to send 2,000 more senior citizens on pilgrimage in next two phases from Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar railway stations. The scheme is applicable to senior citizens aged above 60 and they can travel to various pilgrim destinations including Haridwar-Rishikesh, Allahabad-Varanasi, and Rameswaram-Madurai.
Eligibility is for all those except those who pay income tax payee and those who are retired government employees. All others, irrespective of their religion, can avail the facility after attaining 60 years and can go on tours to holy places under the once-in-a-lifetime scheme. It will be a joint venture between the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) - an MOU has been signed for smooth management of the tour plans.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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