In the recent times, various benefits are being showered on the senior citizens to ease out their lifestyle, downsizing their expenses as much as possible.
A private ‘premier’ airline has been deployed categorically for the purpose of ferrying pilgrims. Over 1000 pilgrims of economically poor background aged 70 years and above will fly free to the religious destinations – Tirupati, Rameshwaram, Dwarka and Jaganathpuri courtesy Devasthan Vibagh of Rajasthan department. The first flight to Chennai for Tirupati Darshan will take off from Jaipur airport on February 28.
The department has asked CM Vasundhara Raje to up the limit of free pilgrimage through trains from 9,000 to 25, 000 for next financial year. A person must be above 70 years of age, for the purpose of free pilgrimage travel and through train the age should be 60 years.
Other than government Pensioners, every person who falls under the age range is eligible to apply for the pilgrimage scheme.
“Every day a batch of 30-90 pilgrims will fly down to the nearest airport to the chosen religious destination. Till date 700 pilgrims have been selected via lottery and date of de partures have been allocated o them. By the end of March he traget of 1000 pilgrims would be completed,” said Raj Kumar Rinwa, minister of Devasthan Vibhaj.
Many states have sponsored the pilgrimage through trains. The state of Rajasthan too has sponsored the pilgrimage through trains since 2013. Interestingly, Rajasthan is the first state in the country which sponsors free aerial pilgrimage.
Rinwa said, “This move is inspired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ambition of inclusive growth and formation of an equal society. I spoke to a few of them (pilgrims), they are very excited to experience flying. It has inspired and motivated us to increase the number of free aerial pilgrimages from the next financial year.”
“Our free pilgrimage package includes lodging, boarding, food, medical and assistance from helpers. For every 50-60 passengers, we have 3-4 helpers who assist them in the train and outside. Train journey to Tripati takes 2-3 days and by aerial route around 12 hours,” added Rinwa.
