MOU signed, Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojna launched
Bhopal : A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in the special presence of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan for Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojna between the State Government and Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) here today. Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojna is the first of its kind in the country launched in Madhya Pradesh for helping senior citizens of every section of society undertake pilgrimage. The MoU was signed by Principal Secretary Revenue, Religious Trusts & Endowments Shri Basant Pratap Singh on behalf of the State Government and IRCTC’s Group General Manager Shri Virendra Singh. Describing this moment as historic, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that religion is the soul of this country. Besides physical progress and prosperity, the State Government is also making efforts to ensure spiritual bliss of state’s citizens. Chief Secretary Shri R. Parasuram was also present on the occasion.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that Teerth-Darshan Yojna is an ambitious scheme of the State Government. As many as 60 thousand senior citizens will be sent on pilgrimage this year. Announcement of the scheme was made at Senior Citizens’ Panchayat. Under the scheme, places of pilgrimage have been identified for senior citizens above 60 years of age. Keeping respect to all religions in view, places of pilgrimage of all the religions have been identified under the scheme. Responsibility of Teerth-Yatra has been entrusted to the Railways. Under the MoU signed today, arrangements for pilgrims’ journey, food, insurance, medical treatment, guide etc will be made.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan also said that mass campaign for freeing state’s lifeline Narmada River will be launched from next Dev Uthhani Gyaras. The campaign will start from the river’s originating point at Amarkantak and Narmada River will be freed from pollution all along its course upto Gulf of Khambat.
The first train under Madhya Pradesh’s unique Mukhyamantri Teerth-Yatra Yojna will leave for Rameshwaram from Habibganj Railway Station on September 3, 2012. Senior citizens from districts of Bhopal and Narmadapuram divisions including Bhopal, Hoshangabad as well as Rajgarh, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Betul and Harda districts will go on this maiden journey under the scheme.
The selected centres of pilgrimage under the scheme include Shri Badrinath, Shri Kedarnath, Shri Jagannath Puri, Shri Dwarkapuri, Haridwar, Amarnath, Vaishnodevi, Shirdi, Tirupati, Ajmer Sharif, Kashi (Varanasi), Gaya, Amritsar, Rameshwaram, Sammved-Shikhar, Shravan Belgola and Velangadi Church, Nagapattnam (Tamil Nadu).
