Haryana to launch free pilgrimage scheme for elderly citizens on December 5

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will unveil the Free Pilgrimage Scheme in Dharmnagari Kurukshetra on December 5, allowing individuals aged 60 and above to apply online for annual pilgrimage. The portal for this scheme has been prepared and tested, with the official launch scheduled for December 5. Following the launch, eligible senior citizens with an annual income below INR 1,80,000 can submit their applications online.
The Chief Minister’s Office conducted a trial of the CM Free Pilgrimage Scheme portal on Friday. The portal will go live on December 5, enabling senior citizens to promptly apply for the pilgrimage whose annual income is below INR 1,80,000.Approximately 28 lakh elderly citizens, as identified in the family identity cards, are expected to qualify for the pilgrimage. To ensure their well-being, the government will also deploy volunteers to accompany the pilgrims.
In case the number of applicants exceeds expectations, the government will arrange special trains to facilitate the pilgrimage for the elderly. Applicants are required to mention their preferred pilgrimage destination and the month they wish to embark on the pilgrimage. After the application process, the government will organize batches of 30 elderly citizens for each pilgrimage, accompanied by a designated volunteer. If there is a surge in demand for a particular pilgrimage site, the government will arrange special trains to accommodate the additional participants.