In a move that would bring cheers to Hindus, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa has announced allocation of Rs 1.25 crore towards subsidy for the 2012-13 fiscal to enable Hindus to take up pilgrimage to Mansarovar in China and Mukthinath temple in Nepal, thus fulfilling her poll assurance.
The chief minister had already announced that the state government would provide subsidy for Christians to enable them to undertake pilgrimage to Jerusalem and for the Hindus to Mansarovar and Mukthinath temples on the lines of the Haj subsidy for Muslims.
Keeping up her promise, Ms Jayalalithaa on Saturday announced allocation of the subsidy to enable 250 Hindus to take up pilgrimage to Mansarovar temple and another 250 to Mukthinath temple.
As the airfare from Chennai to Mansarovar costs Rs 1 lakh, the government would provide subsidy of Rs 40,000 to each of the 250 Hindu pilgrims, totalling Rs 1 crore.
The subsidy for Mukthinath temple pilgrimage is Rs 10,000 each for 250 pilgrims and totals Rs 25 crore. The train fare from Chennai to Mukthinath will cost Rs 25,000, the release added.
These initiatives would help pilgrims from the economically backward section to realise their dreams of visiting the holy places.
The list of beneficiaries for the pilgrimage would be shortlisted after publishing an advertisement in newspapers by October 15.
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department would finalise the list of pilgrims, the release added.