Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government’s “Baristha Nagarika Tritha Yatra Yojana” (BNTYY), a flagship initiative aimed at facilitating pilgrimage for the state’s senior citizens, is continuing its successful run in the financial year 2024-25.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, and Tourism Secretary Balwant Singh recently addressed a press conference to provide updates on the scheme.
Launched on February 1, 2016, the BNTYY is a collaborative effort between the State’s Tourism Department and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). It offers eligible senior citizens a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to embark on a fully sponsored spiritual journey to various pilgrimage sites across India.
Secretary Tourism, Shri Singh said that under the scheme, citizens aged 60 to 75 years are selected, irrespective of caste or religion. Beneficiaries must provide proof of address, age, identity, and demonstrate financial backwardness through documents such as MGNREGS Job cards, Antyodaya/Annapurna cards, old age/widow pension certificates, or NFSA ration cards. For senior citizen couples, at least one spouse must be over 60. Additionally, senior citizens between 70 and 75 years of age are permitted to bring an attendant over 18 years old.
The selection of pilgrims is overseen by District Collectors, who allocate quotas for each district. In instances of high demand, beneficiaries are chosen through a transparent lottery system, with a 20% waiting list maintained to accommodate any shortfalls. Each pilgrimage trip accommodates 800 individuals, comprising 775 senior citizen pilgrims and 25 escort officers.
The state government ensures a comfortable and hassle-free journey by providing a range of facilities. These include transport from the pilgrims’ villages to the designated railway stations and back, as well as comprehensive accommodation, transportation, and food and beverage arrangements during the journey by IRCTC. Furthermore, IRCTC provides a travel guard, guide services, travel insurance, and medical facilities to ensure the well-being of all pilgrims.
Since its inception, the BNTYY has enabled over 37,555 senior citizens from various districts to visit renowned pilgrimage sites. These include destinations like Madurai, Rameswaram, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Ajmer, Pushkar, Tirupati Balaji, Vellore, Srikalahasti, Shirdi, Nashik, Triyombakeshwar, Velankanni, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Sukeswara Kali (Kolkata), Kamakhya, Agra, Mathura, and Vrindavan, across 40 trips.
In the current financial year (2024-25), 7,967 senior citizens have already had the opportunity to visit holy places such as Shirdi, Nashik, Dakhineswar Kali (Kolkata), Kamakhya, Ayodhya, and Varanasi, across 10 organized trips.
Prospective applicants can access detailed information about the scheme on the Tourism Department website at dot.odisha.gov.in, or apply directly through the online link at yatra.odisha.gov.in. The BNTYY stands as a testament to the Odisha government’s commitment to supporting its elderly population and fulfilling their spiritual aspirations.