BHOPAL, INDIA, April 20, 2012 (Indian Express): The Madhya Pradesh BJP government on Thursday announced that it would pay for the pilgrimage of at least one hundred thousand senior citizens every year (for several religions). Under the scheme, called Mukhyamantri Teertha-Darshan Yojana, the senior citizens will be allowed to take attendants, whose expenses will be covered as well.
Madhya Pradesh is the only state that subsidises travel to holy places in Pakistan (Nankana Saheb shrine and Hinglaj Mata temple), China (Mansarovar), Cambodia (Angkor Vat) and Sri Lanka (Sita Mandir and Ashok Vatika).
Though the subsidy options for the shrines located in other countries have been around for some time, few have benefited from them, partly due to lack of publicity but mainly because the potential beneficiaries have to bear half the expense.
The latest subsidy will cover holy places within the country. Besides several Hindu temples, it will cover one place each associated with Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity and Buddhism.