DELHI GOVERNMENT TO OFFER FREE PILGRIMAGE TRIPS EVERY YEAR TO 77,OOO SENIOR CITIZENS

New Delhi, Jan 9: The Delhi government has decided to offer free pilgrimage trips every year to 77,000 city residents aged over 60 years, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said here on Tuesday.

Senior citizens with annual income less than Rs 3 lakh and not an employee of any government or autonomous body can avail the free trips.
The decision to take up ‘Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana’ under which the trips were being offered, was taken in a cabinet meeting here, Sisodia said.

The five routes from which citizens can choose include Mathura-Vrindavan-Agra-Fatehpur Sikri, Haridwar-Rishikesh-Neelkanth, Pushkar-Ajmer, Amritsar-Anandpur Sahib, and Jammu-Vaishno Devi Temple.

The state government will fund the travel, stay, and food expenses of eligible citizens and it will cost the government around Rs 7,000 per pilgrim.

Senior citizens can also have an attendant above 18 years, whose expenses will also be borne by the government.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that each trip will be of three days and two nights and 1,100 people will be selected from each Assembly constituency for the trips in a year.

Application forms for the trip can be filed online, through office of Divisional Commissioner, respective MLA, or office of Tirth Yatra Committee and selection of pilgrims will be done through draw of lots.

Sisodia didn’t give a date from which the trips will begin, but said the scheme will be rolled out soon.
Courtesy –IANS