Maharashtra govt announces pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday announced Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana a pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens from all religions reported news agency PTIThe scheme will help elderly people who are unable to visit the pilgrimage sites on their own he saidShinde made the announcement in the state legislative assembly while replying to a calling attention notice by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik reported PTIThe scheme titled Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana will be for the senior citizens of all religions the chief minister said reported PTIRules will be framed for the scheme and the government will facilitate the pilgrimage of senior citizens from all religions who are unable to do it on their own he said reported PTIIn his demand Sarnaik said senior citizens cannot fulfil their dream of going on a pilgrimage because of financial problems or they have nobody to accompany them and also they do not have any information about how they can go for the pilgrimage reported PTIHe said the state government should start a scheme for senior citizens and include pilgrimage sites of all religions in itMeanwhile a monthly allowance of Rs 1500 to women in the 21 to 60 age group three free LPG cylinders a year for households farmerfriendly steps and a stipend of Rs 10000 per month to youths for skill training were highlights of the Maharashtra governments budget for 202425 presented in the assembly on Friday four months ahead of the state pollsDeputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who holds the finance portfolio presented a Rs 20051 crore revenue deficit budget for the current fiscal even as he announced several sops for women youths and farmers among other sections entailing an expenditure of more than Rs 80000 croreA outlay of Rs 192 lakh crore was proposed under the scheme expenditure in the annual plan 202425Presenting his first full budget as the finance minister in the Shiv SenaBJPNCP government Pawar announced a financial assistance scheme for women Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin YojanaHe had presented an interim budget in February in view of the Lok Sabha pollsUnder the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana eligible women in the age group 21 to 60 years will get a monthly allowance of Rs 1500 The scheme is aimed at ensuring overall development and empowerment of women including economic independence selfreliance health and nutrition he saidAn amount of Rs 46000 crore will be made available every year for this scheme which will be implemented from July Pawar announcedAnnouncing another welfare measure aimed at women Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana the deputy CM said there is a close connection between fuel used for cooking and womens healthIt is our responsibility to provide clean fuel to reduce health issues for women The use of LPG should be intensified as it is a safe fuel The Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana will provide three gas cylinders free per household a year he maintainedWith inputs from PTI