Jaipur, June 13, 2013: 

Rajasthan Government on Wednesday inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the IRCTC for a senior citizens’ pilgrimage scheme. The MoU will ensure free travel for 25,000 beneficiaries to 11 pilgrimage sites across the country.

The scheme entitles senior citizens to a one-time State-sponsored pilgrimage, for which trains will leave from all divisional headquarters in Rajasthan.

All beneficiaries will be insured. The application forms for the same will be available at all sub-divisions till June 17.

The MoU for the flagship scheme, announced by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in this year’s State Budget, was signed by Principal Secretary Tapesh Panwar and IRCTC Chief Regional Manager (Jaipur) Dr. Rohitashwa.

“The State is constantly working towards ensuring social welfare. Besides pilgrimages, we are also opening up several dharmshalas for the pilgrims,” said Mr. Gehlot.

In its current phase, the five-to-eight-day pilgrimage will cover Jagannath Puri (Odisha), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu), Vaishno Devi (Jammu and Kashmir), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Gaya-Kashi (Bihar-Uttar Pradesh), Amritsar (Punjab), Sammed Shikharji (Jharkhand), Bihar Sharif (Bihar) and Shirdi (Maharashtra), among others.

Special 18-coach train

The railways will provide a special 18-coach train for the scheme along with breakfast, lunch and dinner to the beneficiaries. They will also cover expenses on road travel from railway stations to the pilgrimage site.