Lucknow. The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a big decision to fulfill the religious visits of Buddhist and Sikh devotees. In an important meeting on Saturday, the Chief Minister said that pilgrimage has been a medium of spiritual uplift and social harmony in Indian culture. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of the state government to help citizens in reaching places associated with their faith.
The Chief Minister directed that ‘Buddhist Tirtha Darshan Yojana’ for specific pilgrimage of Buddhist devotees and ‘Panch Takht Yatra Yojana’ should be started for Sikh devotees. Through these schemes, financial support will be provided to the devotees, so that they can travel to the major pilgrimage centers of their faith. The Chief Minister directed to give priority to Buddhist monks in the selection of beneficiaries of the scheme. Similarly, the Panch Takht Yatra plan will be for Sikh devotees.
Under this, Sikh devotees, residents of the state, will be given a visit to the five holy ‘Takht Sahib’ site of India. Explain that the holy Panch Takht sites for Sikh Panth include ‘Shri Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, Shri Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab, Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Punjab, Sri Takht Sachkhand Shri Hazur Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra, Shri Harmandir Ji Sahib (Patna Sahib), Bihar,’.
In both the proposed schemes, a minimum amount of Rs 10 thousand per person will be provided as grant. The Chief Minister directed that the process of application for both schemes should be kept completely online, people of weak income group should be given preference with complete transparency in the selection of devotees. Both schemes will be operated in collaboration with IRCTC.
He directed the officials that both these schemes should be implemented by giving the convenience, safety and religious faith of the devotees a top priority. He also said that these schemes will further strengthen the state’s inclusive development policy and the spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. Will give a new dimension to the state’s religious tolerance and tourism, as well as the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’.
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