Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that his Government was committed towards the poor and the downtrodden and it was his duty to come up to the expectations of its people. Das was addressing a gathering at Hatia Railway Station on Saturday while flagging off a special train to Puri, Odisha carrying pilgrims under ‘Mukhyamantri Tirth Darshan Yojana.’
A special train with as many as 1000 pilgrims accommodated in 15 bogies of sleeper class was flagged off from Hatia Station. Maximum number of passengers was from Ranchi along with people from Gumla, Khunti, Simdega and lohardaga.
Under this programme, people above 60 years of age will be taken on pilgrims twice in his lifetime free of coast on Government expenses.
“Under this programme, people from Kolhan, North Chotanagpur, Santhal Pargana and Palamu Divisions will also be taken on pilgrimage very soon,” said the CM. People from all religion and caste will get benefitted of it under which people will be taken to Tirupati, Ajmer Sharif and other destinations, he added.
CM further added that it was the first such occasion when such an initiative was taken by the State Government.
The Government will take people, coming under BPl category, to pilgrimage for which the Tourism Department has been given the responsibility. “Nodal officers of respective areas are also being sent along with the pilgrims so that they do not have to face any problem during their trip,” said the CM. He expected that IRCTC will take proper care of the passengers.
Calling it a historic movement, Tourism Minister Amar Kumar Bauri said that the team was being sent on pilgrimage on the directions of the Chief Minister. “It is an important porgramme for the destitute which will be remembered for the days to come,” said Bauri. Smiles on the faces of the pilgrims were quite satisfying, he added.
The occasion was marked with CM giving travel kit and tickets to the two passengers. The Special train was flagged off by the CM.
MlA Gongotri Kujoor, Development Commissioner Amit Khare, Tourism Secretary Rahul Sharma, Ranchi DRM Anshul Gupta alongwith senior officials of Ranchi Rail Division were also present on the occasion.