Odisha Dy CM Pravati Parida launches religious yatra for senior citizens, reviews development projects in Rayagada
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, December 15: 775 senior citizens from six districts of the south-west including Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Nuapada embarked on Rameshwaram-Madurai yatra from Rayagada railway station.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Parvati Parida launched the Senior Citizen Yatra under the Senior Citizen Teerth Yojana. The senior citizens have gone on a pilgrimage trip with 25 escorts towards Rameshwaram and Madurai by special train from Rayagada railway station on last Moday. Parvati flagged off the event. Congratulating the senior citizens on the occasion, she said that due to the government’s program to provide religious assistance to senior citizens at an old age because of financial situation of many senior citizens, who were deprived of going on pilgrimage. The government has taken this step to overcome that.
The program was held at the railway station under the chairmanship of District Magistrate Ashutosh Kulkarni. Tourism Commissioner and Secretary Balwant Singh, Rayagada Railway DRM Amitabh Singhal, SP Swati S. Kumar attended the program as guests. Railway IRCTC authorities and district level officers were present in the program.
While the spiritual consciousness was arising among senior citizens, they could not visit the pilgrimage site. Tourism Secretary said that this program has been taken to overcome that. The state government will bear all the expenses of the pilgrims during this journey.
Along with the accommodation, transportation, food and drink of the pilgrims, guards, guides, passenger insurance and medical facilities will be provided.
This year, the pilgrimage started in the second phase, while it was planned to travel from Rayagada to Rameswaram and Madurai. In this yatra, 118 pilgrims from Rayagada district, 168 from Koraput, 148 from Nabarangpur, 75 from Malkangiri, 74 from Nuapada district and 192 from Kalahandi have taken the voyage. Aaccommodation arrangements were made for all the pilgrims and cultural programs like reciting devotional songs were organized in the evening. Pilgrims were welcomed with garlands in front of Rayagada Railway Station and a meeting was organized in the station premises to brief about dos ant don’ts.
After this event, Pravati visited the local famous deity Ma Majhi Ghariani. Then she reviewed the activities of Women and Child Development Department, Mission Shakti, Tourism, Rural Development, Education, Child Protection and Integrated Tribal Development Agency Department. Especially, she asked the District Social Welfare Officer(DSWO) about the preparation and distribution of child health and nutritious food in Anganwadi centers and nutrient defficient areas. DSWO clarified about the efforts being made to provide nutritious food through district mineral funds(DMF) in Kashipur area. Parvati asked about Mission Vatsalya in the district and instructed the authorities to publicise this programme. She reviewed the progress of Lakhpati Didi and Subhadra Yojana.
She instructed Tourism Department to take steps to develop the tourism sector of the district. She discussed about the progress of Rural Development Department and reviewed on rural communication in the district. She also discussed drinking water issues, paddy harvesting and Mandi activities with the District Collector Kulkarni.
