Delhi: Free Pilgrimage Scheme For Elderly Resumes, CM Says 780 Senior Citizens Leaving For Rameswaram

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that this scheme is like a "bonanza" for the senior citizens.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The Delhi government's free pilgrimage programme for the elderly, organised under the 'Mukhyamantri Teerth-Yatra Yojna', set out from Delhi on Tuesday. Under the programme, 780 senior citizens embarked on the journey to Rameswaram today.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that this scheme is like a "bonanza" for the senior citizens.

"Today, 780 senior citizens of Delhi are leaving for Rameswaram (under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana). This is like a bonanza for them as there is an honest government in Delhi which saves money to organise pilgrimage tours for the senior citizens," Kejriwal told reporters.

VIDEO | "Today, 780 senior citizens of Delhi are leaving for Rameswaram (under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana). This is like a bonanza for them as there is an honest government in Delhi which saves money to organise pilgrimage tours for the senior citizens," says Delhi CM… pic.twitter.com/7EA8NbCuMY

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 12, 2023

Last month, 780 senior citizens visited Shri Dwarkadhish under the scheme.

Under the scheme launched by the Kejriwal government in 2019, people aged 60 years and above and their attendants are provided free pilgrimage every year. The scheme was launched with five pilgrimage sites and later seven more were added to it.

 

Senior citizens availing free pilgrimage are issued certificates by the MLAs of their respective areas. The ministers of the Delhi government and the chairman of the Tirth Yatra Vikas Samiti also issue certificates to the applicants.

 

The Delhi government bears all the expenses on the pilgrimage, including the travel, food and accommodation charges. Facilities like paramedical staff and attendants are also provided during the journey.

So far, 73 trains have been sent carrying over 75,000 pilgrims under the scheme.

Earlier in April, the BJP also launched a free pilgrimage programme for the elderly and women with Virendra Sachdeva, the party's Delhi unit chief, flagging off four buses ferrying devotees to Mathura-Vrindavan.

The BJP's free pilgrimage programme is modelled on the AAP government's scheme, under which elderly citizens are sent on pilgrimages for free across the country.