Odisha’s Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana Offers Lifetime Pilgrimage Opportunity to Senior Citizens

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government’s flagship pilgrimage initiative for senior citizens — the Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana (BNTYY) — continues to make spiritual journeys possible for the elderly across the state. Launched on February 1, 2016, the scheme has enabled more than 37,555 senior citizens to visit renowned pilgrimage sites across India, offering them a one-time lifetime opportunity for sacred travel.

Jointly implemented by the Tourism Department of Odisha and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the scheme is aimed at citizens aged 60 to 75 years, regardless of caste or religion. It provides a fully sponsored pilgrimage experience, including travel, accommodation, meals, and medical support.

As of FY 2024–25, the program has conducted 40 trips, including visits to Madurai, Rameswaram, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Ajmer, Tirupati Balaji, Shirdi, Kamakhya, Velankanni, and several other iconic religious destinations. In the past year alone, 7,967 senior citizens visited pilgrim spots like Shirdi, Nashik, Dakshineswar Kali (Kolkata), Kamakhya, Ayodhya, and Varanasi across 10 trips.

Under the scheme:

• Citizens in the 70–75 age group are allowed to travel with an attendant aged 18 or above.

• Applicants must submit proof of age, identity, and financial category, including documents like MGNREGS Job Cards, pension records, or ration cards.

• One person from a senior couple must be over 60 years to qualify as a beneficiary pair.

Pilgrim selection is managed by District Collectors according to district-wise quotas. If the number of applications exceeds the available slots, beneficiaries are selected through a lottery system, with an additional 20% kept on a waiting list. Each tour group includes 800 individuals — 775 pilgrims and 25 Escort Officers.

To make the pilgrimage experience seamless and dignified, the government provides:

• Transport from villages to railway stations and back.

• Accommodation, meals, and local travel arrangements through IRCTC.

• Medical facilities, travel insurance, and guides throughout the journey.

Applicants can apply both offline and through the dedicated portal: yatra.odisha.gov.in. Further information and eligibility criteria are available on the Tourism Department website: dot.odisha.gov.in.