Mukhya Mantri Teerth Darshan Yojana will be expanded: Chief Minister Dr. Yadav

Bhopal : Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that the scheme should be expanded keeping in view the visit of the senior citizens of the state to the famous pilgrimage sites of the country as well as major religious places in Madhya Pradesh. For this, the Religious Trust and Endowment Department should conduct a necessary study and prepare an action plan. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that by travelling to places in the state, elderly travellers will not only get the opportunity to visit famous places of their state and temples but it will also be important from the point of view of the economy of the state. Due to the geographical structure of the state, citizens are unable to see many pilgrimage places and remain unaware of the characteristics of their state.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said in a meeting held in Mantralaya regarding the implementation of Mukhya Mantri Teerth Darshan Yojana on Monday that other departments should also take the initiative to familiarize the youth with the ancient heritage and other important places of the state. Taking youth to centers of knowledge and science, places of historical importance and natural beauty, as well as places important from the tourism point of view will increase their knowledge.

The Tribal Development Department should select students from each district on merit basis and take them to visit important places of the state. Religious Trusts and Endowments Minister Shri Dharmendra Singh Lodhi participated in the meeting virtually. In the meeting Chief Secretary Smt. Veera Rana, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Rajesh Rajoura, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Kumar Shukla, and other senior officers were present.

Organize cultural tours of tribal artists also

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that many folk singers, musicians, and artists reside in the tribal-dominated areas of the state. They should be invited to visit various places in the state. They travel for stage performances with traditional musical instruments. They will also get the benefit of visiting various Devasthanams. Their art will also reach the tourists and devotees from India and abroad who visit such places.

Increase facilities regularly at religious places

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the development of various facilities is necessary at the major pilgrimage places of the state as well as at other Devasthals. Various related departments should remain active to ensure that the Dev Sthal complex is equipped with facilities. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav gave instructions to improve the arrangements at the city of Ram Raja Orchha, Sharda Mata’s place Maihar, Bada Mahadev Temple, Chauragarh Mahadev and Jata Shankar Pachmarhi. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav sought information from officials regarding the construction of various religious and cultural places in the state.

Eight lakh citizens have benefited from the scheme

In a presentation given by the Religious Trust and Endowments Department in the meeting, it was told that the Mukhya Mantri Teerth Darshan Yojana started in the state in 2012, is being operated by IRCTC. This includes 41 single pilgrimage sites and 9 pairs of pilgrimage sites in the country. In the last 12 years, about 8 lakh devotees of the state have benefited from the scheme. Citizens above 60 years of age are selected for the journey. There is a relaxation of two years for women. Citizens who are above 65 years of age or are physically challenged are eligible to take attendant with them. Along with food and accommodation, medical, security, and road transport facilities are also provided to the pilgrims. In the last financial year, 18 thousand 480 devotees of the state benefited from the operation of 29 Bharat Gaurav trains. In the current financial year, 35 trains will be arranged for Varanasi- Ayodhya, Rameshwaram, Dwarka, Jagannathpuri, Kamakhya, Shirdi, Haridwar, Mathura- Vrindavan, Deeksha Bhoomi of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar (Nagpur) and Golden Temple Amritsar. Pilgrimage by air has also been started from the year 2023-24. As many as 790 pilgrims from 25 districts of the state have benefited from this. They were taken to Prayagraj, Gangasagar, Shirdi, and Mathura Vrindavan from Bhopal and Indore airports.