The BARISTA_NAGARIKA_TIRTHA_YATRA_YOJANA

EXTRAORDINARY PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 317, CUTTACK, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2016/ MAGHA 21,1937 [No.2583–T.TSP-II-C-01/2016/TSM.] TOURISM & CULTURE (TOURISM) DEPARTMENT RESOLUTION The 1st February, 2016 “BARISTA NAGARIKA TIRTHA YATRA YOJANA” A SCHEME TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SENIOR CITIZENS TO GO ON PILGRIMAGE Pilgrimage or 'Tirtha Yatra' holds a special significance in Indian culture as well as in other cultures of the world. Pilgrimage is considered as a spiritual and divine experience and also a deed of reward. Tradition of Tirtha Yatra or pilgrimage has always played an important role in holding the diversities of Indian culture together and intact since ancient times. Moreover, it also promotes social harmony. Every person desires to go on pilgrimage to holy places for at least once in his/her lifetime and such desire reaches its peak at an old age. Due to poverty and backwardness, for many it remains a dream unfulfilled resulting in utter discontentment and non fulfilment of the divine experience. In the epic the Ramayana, Shravan Kumar is a symbol of unflinching dedication to parents by carrying them on his shoulders to pilgrimage. An ideal welfare state always makes a continuous effort to provide the best of its support for a better living of such older people. Such efforts need to include one more component to make it holistic through realisation of this unfulfilled dream of having one Tirtha Drashan during the lifetime. Keeping this in view, the State Tourism Department offers a great opportunity to the poor and deprived senior Citizens of the State for realisation of their lifelong dream of having one Tirtha Darshan (Pilgrimage) with the support of the State. This scheme will be offered to people of all regions/faith. The scheme will help senior citizens over 60 years of age to undertake pilgrimage at Government assistance. States like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh, etc are successfully organising similar schemes with good response from all domiciles of States. 2 IRCTC, a PSU of Ministry of Railways has proposed this novel venture for eastern India covering multiple destinations like Bhubaneswar–Rameswaram, Bhubaneswar– Allahabad–Varanasi, Puri–Dwarka, Bhubaneswar–Mathura–Brundaban, Bhubaneswar– Ajmer, Bhubaneswar–Ujjain, Bhubaneswar–Haridwar–Rishikesh, Bangriposi–Puri, Sambalpur–Puri, Nuapada–Puri, Koraput–Puri, Rourkela–Puri, Bangiriposi–Tirupati, etc. Eligibility : 1. Pilgrim must be over 60 years of age and a domicile of Odisha. 2. Pilgrim should be physically and mentally sound to undertake journey and should not be suffering from any communicable disease like TB, difficulty in breathing, heart disease, etc. 3. BPL pilgrim of more than 60 years age will avail 100% concession under the scheme. 4. Non BPL Pilgrims of (except income tax payees) in the age group of 60-70 years will avail 50% concession and those above 70 years of age will get 75% concession on the travel cost. 5. Applicant providing false information and hiding facts can be deprived of benefit under the scheme anytime. Facilities during pilgrimage : 1. Vegetarian meals with drinking water throughout the journey; 2. Road transport; 3. Accommodation in nearby destinations; 4. Tour escorts, tour guide, public address system, special travel kit, travel insurance; and 5. Medical facilities with professional physicians. Application Procedure: 1. A senior citizen desirous to avail benefit of Tirtha-Darshan Yojana should fill up application in prescribed pro forma in two copies and submit the same at nearest Tahasil/ Block/ Sub-Collector/ Tourist Office before the prescribed time-limit. 2. Photo and address proof should be affixed to application. Ration card, driving licence, electricity bill, voters’ identity card or any other evidence recognised by the State Government will be accepted as address proof. 3. Under the scheme, an attendant can also accompany pilgrim above 70 years of age. If one of the spouses is selected, his or her life partner can also go on pilgrimage. The life partner can undertake pilgrimage even if he or she is less than 3 60 years of age. Application of life partner will have to be submitted simultaneously. Similarly, attendants’ application should also be submitted simultaneously. 4. If senior citizens submit application in group, then entire group will be regarded as one application and selected in lottery. One group can consist of maximum 25 applicants including attendants. Selection Procedure : • Selection of pilgrims will be made by a District Level Committee headed by Collector. First, applications will be sorted place-wise. Selection will be made through lottery, if the number of applicants are more than available berths • If pilgrims desire to avail any facility other than the prescribed by the Government during journey, then they will have to make payment for the same. • Carrying any inflammable or intoxicating material or jewellery will not be allowed. • The State Government will not be responsible for any accident during the journey. • State-Level Committee and District Level Committee will be constituted to ensure effective monitoring and management of pilgrimage journey of senior citizens. State Level Committee : The State Level Committee shall be constituted under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary with the following members to monitor and supervise the scheme. 1. Chief Secretary –Chairman 2. Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary 3. Secretary, Tourism & Culture Department 4. Secretary, Home Department 5. Secretary, Health Department 6. Secretary, ST & SC Department 7. Secretary, Women & Child Development Department 8. Secretary, Panchyatiraj Department 9. DG, Police 10. RDCs 11. Director, Culture Department 12. Director, Sports Department 13. M.D, OTDC 14. Director, Tourism –Member Convenor 4 District Level Committee : The District Level Committee shall be constituted under the Chairmanship of Collector with following members to scrutinise and recommend the names of pilgrims and address other issues of pilgrims of the districts. 1. Collector – Chairman 2. ADM – Vice-Chairman 3. SP of the District – Member 4. PD DRDA – Member 5. Sub Collectors – Member 6. CDMO – Member 7. DWO – Member 8. DSWO – Member 9. District Culture Officer – Member 10. District Sports Officer – Member 11. District Tourist Officer – Member Convenor Other terms and conditions : • Under the Scheme “Complete Tour Package” shall be taken care of by the IRCTC as per agreed terms and conditions. • The detailed cost estimate and tour itinerary will be provided by IRCTC. • Tour destinations will be decided by DoT and will be provided to IRCTC in advance for planning of tour itinerary and train schedule. • The DoT shall be the funding authority and shall provide complete funds as per price quoted and mutually agreed. • The tour will be operated by chartered trains and shall originate from the points mutually agreed by DoT and IRCTC and other major railway stations as desired by DoT subject to operational feasibility. Apart from the originating place, 3 en-route stations will be provided for boarding and de-boarding of the passengers. • The tour packages shall include train journey in sleeper class in chartered train, night accommodation on multi sharing basis, veg. meals (morning tea, breakfast, lunch, evening tea and dinner) on set standard menu. • Transport and sightseeing by Non-A/C buses, services of tour managers from IRCTC, tour escorts, etc 5 • The tour package will not include ticket price for light and sound show and other activities, digital video camera, boating, ropeways charges, etc. at sightseeing places which shall be paid by the pilgrims, if they wish to avail the facilities. • No. of items, designs, specifications of the travel kit will be decided by DoT and the cost may be shared by DoT and IRCTC.. • MoU will be signed between the State Government and IRCTC as per mutually agreed provisions.. • A Special Cell named “Barista Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana Management Cell” with adequate man-power and accessories shall function in OTDC for the purpose. • Provision for Travel Insurance should be mandatorily made for the pilgrims. ORDER Ordered that the Resolution be published in the Odisha Gazette and copies thereof forwarded to the A.G., Odisha/ all Departments of Govt./all Heads of Departments/all RDCs/all Collectors/all Tourist Officers for information. By Order of the Governor G.K. DHAL Principal Secretary to Government 6 ANNEXURE-‘A’ Application (in duplicate) for availing benefit under “Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana” 1. Name of the applicant : (in Block capital letter) (I.D proof to be enclosed) Photograph one to 2. Father Name/ Husbands name : be affixed in the 3. Permanent Address : space & another to 4. Present Address : be attached 5. Contact No. Telephone/Mobile/E-mail : 6. Date of Birth : 7. Age on the date of application : (Proof to be enclosed) 8. Sex : 9. Category – (APL/BPL) : (Proof to be enclosed) 10. Name of the attendant if companied with the senior citizen : (Copy of Id proof, Photograph, Address, Age, Category should be attached) 11. Relationship of the attendant accompanied with the senior citizen. (A separate application form should also be submitted simultaneously for the attendant and the senior citizen) 12. Medically fitness certificate with undertaking that, the pilgrim should be physically & mentally sound to undertake the journey and should not be suffering from any communicable diseases like T.B. difficulty in breathing, Heart diseases etc. (Medical certificate to be attached) 13. Whether the pilgrim is a Income tax payer or not (Annual gross income for last financial year proof to be attached with Pan card) 7 14. Destination to be visited : (The pilgrim can choose any one of the destinations for visit out of the destinations specified by Government in Resolution No.2583/TSM, dated the 1st February, 2016) UNDERTAKING I, Sri/Smt.________________________________________Son/Daughter/Wife of ___________________ do here by declare that the above information furnished by me, are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. I will be held responsible for any false information & hiding facts and will be deprived of the benefit under the scheme if detected at any time. Signature: Date: Printed and published by the Director, Printing, Stationery and Publication, Odisha, Cuttack-10 Ex. Gaz. 1618-173+300