Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the launch of the 'Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana' on Saturday, a new pilgrimage scheme designed to help senior citizens from all religions. The initiative aims to support elderly individuals who face difficulties visiting pilgrimage sites independently.
CM Shinde made the announcement while addressing a calling attention notice by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in the state legislative assembly. "The scheme titled 'Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana' will be for the senior citizens of all religions," he stated. The government will establish rules for the scheme to ensure that senior citizens, regardless of their religion, can undertake pilgrimages they might otherwise be unable to manage on their own.
MLA Pratap Sarnaik highlighted that many senior citizens cannot fulfill their dream of going on pilgrimages due to financial constraints, lack of companionship, or insufficient information about pilgrimage arrangements. He urged the state government to create a scheme that includes pilgrimage sites of all religions to address these issues.
In response, Chief Minister Shinde assured that the government would facilitate the pilgrimage of senior citizens from all religious backgrounds, helping them achieve their spiritual aspirations despite any personal or financial obstacles.
Meanwhile, in other news from the Maharashtra Assembly, Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Saturday announced that visitors will not be allowed in the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan except on Tuesday and Thursday. He said, the decision is being taken to avoid crowds inside the premises.
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