Nabarangpur/Bhubaneswar, February 13: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday launched Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana (SJDY) in Nabaranpur district.
The initiative promises free transportation, accommodation, and food for poor elderly citizens from villages, enabling them to visit the Jagannath temple in Puri. The scheme has been launched simultaneously in five districts – Nabarangpur, Bhadrak, Baripada in Mayurbhnaj district, Sambalpur and Berhampur in Ganjam district with the Chief Minister gracing the main event in Nabarangpur.
In the first phase, 500 senior citizens from five districts of the State leave for Puri to have the darshan of the sibling deities at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
As many as 74 senior citizens from Ganjam district have left for Puri in specially arranged bus. During the current year, around 5,000 eligible beneficiaries will visit the Jagannath Temple under this scheme. Over the next four years, 1.20 lakh senior citizens will visit the 12th century shrine.
Escort officers and paramedical staff accompanied them to look after their needs. In the coming days, thousands of registered senior citizens of the district will avail the benefits of this scheme.
Under this scheme, all eligible beneficiaries will travel in air-conditioned buses, and arrangements have been made for their stay at Brindabati Nivas in Puri, along with Mahaprasad and four vegetarian meals daily. Arrangements have also been made for health check-ups for all.
Beneficiaries include citizens aged 60 to 75 years and widows up to 75 years already enrolled under old-age and widow pension schemes.
