32 senior citizens leave for Badrinath shrine

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 14

A group of 32 senior citizens from Haridwar proceeded on the Badrinath yatra in Chamoli district today.

These aged persons would b travelling free under the Mere Bujurg Mere Teerth scheme initiated by Chief Minister Harish Rawat last year.

District Magistrate Harish Chand Semwal met the pilgrims, including two women, hailing from various parts of the district, at Hotel Rahi here. Special rituals were performed before they proceeded on the yatra.

Semwal said they planned to send 4,800 senior citizens on the pilgrimage of the Badrinath or Gangotri shrines under the scheme. “Senior citizens are being provided free transport service in Uttarakhand Roadways buses, lodging, food and health check up for pilgrimage to the Badrinath and Gangotri shrines. For the Badrinath yatra, three halts at Peepalkoti, Badrinath and Shrikot in Srinagar have been planned. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam has also appointed special tourist guides to assist senior citizens during their pilgrimage to the two shrines,” said Semwal.

Regional Tourism Officer VK Gangwar said the registration of senior citizens under the scheme was being done at the district tourism office, sub-divisional magistrate's offices and block development offices.

Gangwar said 30 registered pilgrims would be sent on buses to the Badrinath shrine every Thursday and to the Gangotri shrine every Friday.

Hotel Rahi manager Sushil Nautiyal, regional manager Bhanesh Ghildiyal and other administration officers were present.