Scheme to fund over 77,000 pilgrims from Delhi on the anvil

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTC) is mulling to start a new scheme to fund 77,000 Delhiites on religious pilgrimages every year.

The Corporation, directly under the Delhi government, is likely to be table a proposal before the Cabinet shortly.

According to officials of the Culture department Delhi government officials, the initiative has been included as part of the Mukhya Mantri Teerath Yatra scheme, which will provide 1,110 residents from the 70 Assembly constituencies once in a lifetime chance to go a government funded pilgrimage.

Among the destinations proposed by the Delhi government are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Haridwar and Mathura.

While the plan currently does not include travel insurance, officials said it might be possibly included in the future. Later on, the amount of cover could also be decided.

Similar pilgrimage schemes have been started in Rajasthan and Odisha.

The pilgrimage programme in those states offer senior citizen the opportunity to avail of the funding.

According to a Delhi government official, making the scheme open for senior citizens – as is the case in other states with similar programmes – or widening the age bracket would mostly likely be decided later, after a final decision is taken by the Delhi Cabinet.

Under the proposed scheme, the Finance and Planning Department would fund the trips, which be organised by the DTTC.