Bhubaneswar: Total 970 senior citizens from south-western region of Odisha went on pilgrimage in a special train on Sunday.
Minister of Law, ST & SC Development Jagannath Saraka flagged off the train carrying the pilgrims under the state government’s “Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana” at Rayagada railway station.
The senior citizens from 6 districts including Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangopur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Nuapada boarded the special train from Rayagada. They were accompanied by 30 escorts and the officials.
Under the government scheme, the senior citizens will visit pilgrim places Varanasi and Gaya. The senior citizens include 265 from Rayagada, 182 from Koraput, 130 from Nabarangpur, 79 from Malkangiri, 94 from Nuapada and 220 from Kalahandi.
The government had planned the pilgrimage in 24 phases during 2023-24 financial year. Later, pilgrimage to Varanasi and Gaya was decided for the pilgrims from these 6 districts.
Advisor of the government scheme Durga Prasad Samantray, Rayagada zilla parishad chairperson Saraswati Majhi, additional collector Bhaskar Raita, additional secretary of Tourism department Balmukund Bhuyan and senior Railway officials were present at the function.
