Chief Minister Tirtha Darshan Yojana’ for Senior Citizens

Mumbai : Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently announced the ‘Chief Minister Tirtha Darshan Yojana,’ which allows senior citizens aged 60 and above from all religions in the state to undertake a free pilgrimage to major religious sites in India. The government has now issued an official order for this scheme. A total of 73 pilgrimage sites in India and 66 in Maharashtra have been included in this scheme, covering almost all major religious sites in the country and the state.

Many senior citizens dream of visiting major pilgrimage sites at least once in their lifetime. However, due to financial constraints or lack of companionship, this desire often remains unfulfilled. Through the Chief Minister Tirtha Darshan Yojana, senior citizens from all religions in the state will have the opportunity to visit these pilgrimage sites in India for free, thereby achieving peace of mind and spiritual fulfillment.

The scheme covers major pilgrimage sites across the state and the country. Eligible individuals will be able to benefit from this scheme for one pilgrimage from the specified sites. The maximum travel expense covered per person is ₹30,000, which includes travel, meals, accommodation, and other related expenses.

To be eligible, the beneficiary must be a resident of Maharashtra with an annual family income not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh. The beneficiary must also be a senior citizen aged 60 years or above. Applications for the scheme must be submitted online, either through a mobile app or through Setu centers, where they can be submitted free of charge. Authorized tourist companies will be selected to organize bus travel, while IRCTC-equivalent authorized companies will be selected for railway travel under the scheme.

The scheme will not be available to those whose family includes an income tax-paying member, current or former members of Parliament or the Legislative Assembly, those with a family member employed in government service or receiving a pension, families owning a four-wheeler (excluding tractors), those suffering from an illness, or those who provide false information in the application.

A separate quota will be allocated for each district based on population. Selection of travelers will be done through a district-level committee established at each district, and travelers will be selected by lottery based on the availability of applications received. A waiting list for 100% of the additional people in the quota will also be created. If a selected beneficiary does not undertake the pilgrimage, the opportunity will be given to a senior citizen on the waiting list.

Only the selected individual will be allowed to go on the pilgrimage; others cannot accompany them. However, applicants aged 75 and above will be allowed to bring either their spouse or an assistant. The assistant must be between the ages of 21 and 50. If both husband and wife have applied separately and one is selected, the Commissionerate of Social Welfare may allow both to go on the pilgrimage together. There will be no provision for taking an assistant while traveling together. However, if both are over 75 years of age and have registered an assistant in the application, the assistant may accompany them.

A 17-member committee headed by the Minister of Social Justice at the state level has been formed to monitor and review the scheme. Similarly, a seven-member committee headed by the Guardian Minister will be active at the district level for the implementation of the scheme, with the Assistant Commissioner of Social Welfare serving as the Member Secretary. The Commissioner of Social Welfare will act as the coordinating officer at the state level. A dedicated website for the scheme will be created. This scheme will bring satisfaction to senior citizens by fulfilling their desire to undertake a pilgrimage.