The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, has announced that the state government will launch more pilgrimage sites as part of the Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme. The scheme was launched in 2013, as a tribute to the elders of society. Gehlot made the announcement while addressing passengers travelling to Rameshwaram-Madurai. He also revealed that 86,000 people have travelled under the Moksh Kalash Yojana, which allows free bus travel for the immersion of ashes of their kin. The scheme was initially introduced in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has now been made permanent.
Since August 2013, over 1.17 lakh senior citizens have availed of the Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme, and according to the budget announcement this year, 40,000 people will travel to different pilgrim sites. Each train coach will have two government employees, one doctor, and two nursing personnel to serve the passengers.
The state government has also increased the grant for passengers going on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and for those visiting the Indus River. Gehlot revealed that the government is renovating temples, and the honorarium of priests has also been increased. The Devasthan Minister informed that the state government has allocated Rs. 5.93 crore for the renovation of 593 temples in the state.
Under the Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme-2023, the first train departed from Durgapura Railway Station in Jaipur to Rameswaram, with 520 passengers from Jaipur and 340 from Kota. The government aims to include more pilgrimage sites under this scheme and ensure the comfort and convenience of elderly travelers.
