As many as 22 pilgrims under the 'Mere Buzurg Mere Tirath' scheme left for the Badri Dham pilgrimage from Champawat on Friday.
The batch of 22 pilgrims flagged off by Champawat District Magistrate, Deependra Kumar Chaudhary, from Champawat on Friday morning. Speaking on this occasion Chaudhary urged all the senior citizens above 65 years of age to make the most of this pilgrimage scheme. At the same time he also asked the officials concerned of the tourism department concerned under whose guidance this pilgrimage is being conducted, to take necessary steps so that a safe and smooth pilgrimage could be ensured for the devotees.
In the meanwhile, two devotees could not go on the Badri Dham pilgrim as they were found unfit during their health check up on Friday morning , said the officials concerned of the Champawat district administration. However, registration of next batch of pilgrims which will leave for Char Dham pilgrimage on October 17, has also begun in the district, added the officials concerned of the Champawat district administration. It is to not that as many as 58 pilgrims in two batches i.e. 28 in first batch and 30 in second batche under the 'Mere Buzurg Mere Tirath' scheme had already gone on the Char Dham pilgrimage from Bageshwar. The next batch of pilgrims is likely to leave for Char Dham pilgrimage on October 13 , as the officials concerned of the Bageshwar district administration said. More so, as many as 26 pilgrims under the same 'Mere Buzurg Mere Tirath' scheme had also gone for the Badrinath pilgrimage from Udham Singh Nagar.
This 'Mere Buzurg Mere Tirath'is a free of cost scheme launched by the Government for people above 65 years of age. However, the pilgrims are being sent on the aforesaid pilgrimage only when they are found fit from the health point of view during their medical checkup.