Fulfilling an election promise, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has issued orders for grant of subsidy to those undertaking pilgrimage to Manasarovar and Muktinath.
A similar order for those undertaking pilgrimage to Jerusalem has already been passed.
The subsidy will be given to 500 persons from the State, 250 each to Manasarovar in China and Muktinath in Nepal. This year, out of the likely expense totalling Rs. 1.40 lakh for a person to go to Manasarovar by air from here and back, Rs. 40,000 will be allocated by the government. Likewise, for the train journey to Muktinath and back from Chennai, Rs. 10,000 will be given as subsidy out of the expense of Rs. 25,000.
Thus, Rs. 1.25 crore has been set apart by the government, according to an official release.
The selection of pilgrims will be done by the HR and CE Department after issuing advertisements in newspapers before October 15 every year.
