To enable the elderly to fulfil their dreams of undertaking religious pilgrimage, the state government has started a scheme ‘Dev Bhoomi Darshan’.

The benefits of this scheme can only be claimed by the elderly persons of Himachal Pradesh.

An official spokesperson said here on Sunday that the state government sensitive and committed towards welfare of elderly persons has started a new scheme “Dev Bhoomi Darshan” for senior citizens above 70 years to visit famous places and temples in the state.

There are about seven lakh elderly persons in the Himachal Pradesh, he added.

While this facility of free travel has been provided to the citizens of the age group of more than 80 years, however lesser age group senior citizens will be given 50 per cent discount in the travel package, he said.

A member will be allowed to travel as an assistant with older persons over 80 years of age who will be entitled to 80 per cent discount in the fare, he added.

“The main objective of Dev Bhoomi Darshan scheme is to provide comfortable and better transport facilities for the elderly persons visiting religious places with the view to protect this vulnerable class of society from social neglect and loneliness. Due to the lack of financial constraints and facilities, senior citizens are unable to travel the religious places,” he said.

This scheme will be implemented in all the district headquarters so that maximum senior citizens can avail this benefit, he stated, adding that in order to implement the scheme, district committees will be formed under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, who will complete the other formalities for implementing the scheme.

The travel period will be about one week and the income of the elderly persons should not be more than one lakh rupees for availing this facility, he informed.

The facility of travelling will be available only once in three years, he added.

Furthermore, to utilize the state’s treasure of cultural, historical and archeological heritage keeping in the view of tourism, the state government has also started a new scheme called ‘Aaj Purani Rahon Se’ with the aim of conserving and promoting the unexplored aspects of ancient cultural heritage and facilitating tourists with cultural heritage tourism, he disclosed.

Under this scheme, by providing proper training to youth having education till plus two will be assigned as cultural guides so that they can inform the tourists about the state’s culture, history, folk songs and popular beliefs, he said.

While this scheme provides employment opportunities to the youth, tourism activities will also be encouraged, added the spokesperson.