The State Government gives financial assistance to pilgrims of over 60 years of age under Mukhyamantri Tirth-Darshan Yojana to visit one of selected pilgrimages outside the State in a lifetime. The scheme was launched in Madhya Pradesh with pilgrimage journey to Rameshwaram on September 3, 2012 under which pilgrims were sent though package of IRCTC. Now, pilgrims of other age groups have also been brought under the ambit of the scheme for journey to some places.
People under 60 years of age can participate in journey to leh-ladakh for Sindhu Darshan Yatra. Sindhu river’s Ghat and other religious tourism destinations exist in ladakh. Every selected pilgrim under the scheme will be given Rs10,000 after completion of journey by Tourism Development Corporation. Pilgrims will be selected through a draw of lot. Selected pilgrim will have to intimate before embarking on journey. Grant for Sindhu Darshan Yojana was announced by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last year on the occasion of Cheti Chand festival at his residence.
Under Mukhyamantri Tirth-Darshan Yojana, journeys to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Jagannath Puri, Dwarika Puri, Haridwar, Amarnath, Vaishno Devi, Shirdi, Tirupathi, Amjer Sharif, Kashi, Gaya, Amritsar, Rameshwaram, Sammed Shikhar, Shravan Bela Gola and Velangani Church, Nagapattinam are included. Under the scheme, 2.50 lakh senior citizens have undertaken pilgrimage journeys in the state so far. Keeping in view scheme’s popularity, arrangements have been made for longer stay of pilgrims at some centres of pilgrimage.
On the lines of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand have also implemented this scheme. Uttar Pradesh is going to implement the scheme as Shravan Yojana. Maharashtra is also going to implement it soon. At present, about 1.25 lakh pilgrims will be taken to centres of pilgrimage. Now, Ayodhya, Mathura, Prayag, Ganga Sagar, St Thomas Church, Kerala and Sant Kabeer’s birthplace lahartara will also be covered under the scheme. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given directives for this.
Directives have been given to test quality of food and other facilities provided to pilgrims during journeys from time to time. It is noteworthy that per head assistance for pilgrimage journey to Kailash Mansarovar has been increased from Rs30,000 to Rs50,000. Feedback is also taken from pilgrims after journey. Necessary amendments are made on the basis of it.