Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav has ordered the state’s religious sites to be included in the government’s senior citizen pilgrimage program.
The Mukhyamantri Tirth Darshan Yojana was initiated in 2012 by the then-BJP administration led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan. It allows individuals to visit different pilgrimage sites around the nation.
In a meeting on Monday, authorities informed the chief minister that over eight lakh people from MP had benefited from the program over the previous twelve years. The program covers 41 single and nine pair (two locations in one trip) pilgrimage sites across the nation.
Yadav claimed that people are unable to visit numerous pilgrimage sites and are ignorant of the unique qualities of their own state because of Madhya Pradesh’s physical layout.
According to him, the program had to be extended to allow older folks to visit both well-known religious locations in MP and national pilgrimage destinations.
The Chief Minister instructed the relevant authorities to incorporate the state’s sites of worship into the plan.
After carrying out the required research, the Religious Trusts and Endowments Department ought to draft an action plan, he stated.
Elderly travelers will have the chance to see well-known locations within their own state, but it will also be significant from the perspective of the MP economy, according to Yadav.
Additionally, he requested that the officials create a plan to enable deserving pupils to visit significant historical tourism destinations.
The chief minister also requested that officials permit folk artists from areas dominated by tribes to visit tourist destinations so they can exhibit their artwork.
Individuals who are over 60 years old can travel as part of the pilgrimage program. For women, there is a two-year relaxation.
According to officials, people who are disabled or older than 65 are allowed to bring an aide with them.
They said that during the tours, the pilgrims receive food, lodging, medical attention, security, and road transportation services.