TBM Staff - Mumbai
Ahead of the Assembly polls, the Maharashtra government has expanded its Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana by adding 110 minority religious sites, including 15 from across India and 95 within the state. The scheme now includes key Muslim, Parsi, Buddhist, and Jain pilgrimage destinations like Haji Ali Dargah, Iranshah Atash Behram, and Velankanni.
Launched in July 2024, the scheme initially covered 139 prominent religious sites such as Vaishno Devi, Amarnath, and the Golden Temple. Eligible senior citizens with an annual income of up to INR 2.5 lakh are entitled to INR 30,000 for travel, accommodation, and food. Additionally, those over 75 years of age can bring along a spouse or attendant.
Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh expressed satisfaction that the government has now included key Muslim sites but criticised the delayed inclusion, labeling it an “election gimmick” to influence voters ahead of the polls. He pointed out that the state’s rich Sufi history, including prominent dargahs like Haji Malang, was overlooked in the initial phase of the scheme.
