Panaji, Goa: The Government of Goa has spent ₹126 crore on 21 pilgrimage tours conducted under the Mukhyamantri Dev Darshan Scheme, benefiting 21,574 devotees, according to details tabled in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The figures, presented during the Assembly session, provide an overview of the expenditure incurred under the state’s flagship pilgrimage initiative, which enables eligible residents to undertake visits to prominent religious destinations across India.
Over 21,000 Devotees Benefited
As per the information placed before the House, a total of 21,574 devotees participated in 21 organised pilgrimage tours under the Mukhyamantri Dev Darshan Scheme.
The initiative is aimed at providing citizens, particularly senior citizens and eligible beneficiaries, with an opportunity to visit important places of worship without bearing the full financial burden of travel.
The government stated that the scheme continues to receive a positive response from participants across Goa.
Pilgrimage Destinations Across India
The organised tours covered several of India’s most revered religious destinations, including:
- Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh.
- Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra.
- Prayagraj, a major spiritual destination in Uttar Pradesh.
- Ayodhya, one of Hinduism’s holiest cities.
The programme has been designed to facilitate organised travel, accommodation, and other logistical arrangements for devotees.
Details Tabled in the Assembly
The expenditure and beneficiary figures were disclosed in the Goa Legislative Assembly in response to questions regarding the implementation of the Mukhyamantri Dev Darshan Scheme.
The information provides transparency regarding the utilisation of public funds and the scale of the programme since its implementation.
Assembly discussions also focused on the scheme’s reach and its contribution to enabling religious tourism for eligible citizens.
Objective of the Dev Darshan Scheme
The Mukhyamantri Dev Darshan Scheme seeks to make pilgrimage travel more accessible by providing government-supported tours to important religious destinations.
Apart from promoting spiritual tourism, the programme aims to encourage social participation among senior citizens and other eligible groups while ensuring organised and safe travel arrangements.
Officials have stated that the scheme reflects the government’s commitment to supporting citizens who wish to undertake pilgrimages but may face financial or logistical challenges.
Public Discussion on Expenditure
The disclosure of the expenditure has generated public discussion regarding the scale of government spending on welfare and pilgrimage programmes.
Supporters of the initiative view it as an important social welfare measure that enables thousands of devotees to visit sacred places, while others have called for continued transparency and evaluation of public expenditure.
The details presented in the Assembly contribute to informed public debate on the implementation and impact of the scheme.
Key Highlights
- The Goa Government spent ₹126 crore on 21 pilgrimage tours under the Mukhyamantri Dev Darshan Scheme.
- A total of 21,574 devotees benefited from the programme.
- Pilgrimage destinations included Tirupati, Shirdi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya.
- The expenditure details were tabled in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
- The scheme aims to promote accessible pilgrimage travel for eligible residents.
The figures presented in the Goa Legislative Assembly highlight the scale of the Mukhyamantri Dev Darshan Scheme and its reach among devotees across the state. As discussions continue on public expenditure and welfare priorities, the scheme remains one of the state’s major initiatives aimed at facilitating religious travel and expanding access to pilgrimage opportunities for thousands of Goans.
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