What this scheme offers
Since June 2012 Madhya Pradesh has sent senior citizens on a free, once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to sites outside the state; the first trip, on 3 September 2012, went to Rameswaram. Travel is arranged in groups, mainly by IRCTC rail packages, and the list of destinations includes Badrinath, Kedarnath, Jagannath Puri, Dwarka, Haridwar, Amarnath, Vaishno Devi, Shirdi, Tirupati, Ajmer Sharif, Kashi, Amritsar, Rameswaram, Sammed Shikhar and Shravanabelagola. Men must be 60 and women 58, and anyone who pays income tax is excluded. A spouse can go along even if younger than 60, a group of up to 25 can apply together, and a pilgrim aged 65 or above, or with more than 60% disability, may take an attendant.
Who is eligible
- Native (permanent resident) of Madhya Pradesh.
- Aged 60 years or above — 58 for women; persons with more than 60% disability have no age limit.
- Not an income-tax payer, and has not taken the benefit of the scheme before (once in a lifetime).
- A spouse of an eligible pilgrim can travel too, even if below 60; pilgrims aged 65+ or with 60%+ disability can take one attendant.
- A medical fitness certificate is needed for the journey.
Documents required
- Completed application form (Hindi form on the Dharmasva portal)
- Aadhaar card and Samagra ID
- Proof of age
- Declaration that you are not an income-tax payer
- Medical fitness certificate
- Disability certificate, if applying on that ground
- Passport-size photographs
How to apply
- Collect the form from your Tehsil, Sub-Tehsil or urban body office, or download it from dharmasva.mp.gov.in.
- Fill in your details, choice of pilgrimage and the declarations, and attach the documents.
- To travel with others, apply as a group of up to 25 persons; the group head is the main applicant.
- Submit the form at the Tehsil, district or urban body office, which uploads it on the scheme portal.
- Selected pilgrims are told the date and train; a 10% waiting list is kept for those who drop out.