Taking its cue from different northern states, the Odisha government on Thursday gave in principal approval for an all-cost-paid pilgrimage for senior citizens belonging to all religions.
Except the income tax payee and retired government employees, all people after attaining 60 years are eligible to go in tours to holy places under the scheme. One person can avail the benefit once in his life, sources said.
In the 2014 election manifesto, the BJD had promised to provide one-time financial assistance to senior citizens for pilgrimage.
Under the scheme, the state government would bear the entire tour expenditure of devotees including travel, accommodation and medical expenses, said an official statement from chief minister’s office.
Chief minister Shri.Naveen Patnaik directed the tourism department to function as the nodal department for the scheme while a special cell would be opened to monitor the scheme.
The department is yet to decide about the number of people it would take on trip in a year.
The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation will shortly sign a memorandum of understanding with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation for smooth management of the tour plans.
To select beneficiaries under the scheme, there would be a committee headed by district collectors at district level. The state level committee would be headed by chief secretary G C Pati.
Prasanta Patnaik