Tirth Barat Yojana

Chhattisgarh government runs Tirth Barat Yojana for senior citizens and persons with disabilities to complete a pilgrimage to designated sacred sites outside the state once in their lifetime. The scheme covers travel expenses, helping eligible residents fulfill their spiritual aspirations through a state-sponsored journey.

Launched by the Social Welfare Department on 4th December 2012, this scheme extends a helping hand to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The government provides travel assistance for pilgrimage trips to one or more designated sacred sites outside Chhattisgarh, ensuring these individuals can undertake their desired spiritual journeys at least once in their lifetime.

Tirth Barat Yojana – Overview

The government allocates benefits based on specific social criteria. Eighty percent of seats are reserved for Below Poverty Line families including Antyodaya and Chief Minister Food Grain cardholders. Twenty percent goes to Above Poverty Line non-taxpayers. Seventy-five percent allocation is for rural area residents and twenty-five percent for urban area residents.

Benefits

Under Tirth Barat Yojana, the state government organizes group trips to sacred destinations. This is a one-time opportunity in your lifetime to visit holy sites. For example, if Ramesh, a senior citizen, qualifies, he gets the chance to join a guided pilgrimage group without worrying about major travel arrangements.

Designated pilgrimage sites include:

• Ujjain, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh
• Puri, Bhubaneswar in Odisha
• Haridwar, Rishikesh in Uttarakhand
• Mathura, Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh
• Prayag, Kashi in Uttar Pradesh
• Shirdi, Shani Shingnapur, Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra
• Vaishno Devi, Jammu in Jammu & Kashmir
• Amritsar, Golden Temple in Punjab
• Tirupati, Madurai, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu
• Ajmer Sharif, Fatehpur (Dargah of Chishti) in Rajasthan
• Baba Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand
• Dakshineswar, Kalighat, Gangasagar in West Bengal
• Dwarka, Somnath, Nageshwar in Gujarat
• Sammed Shikharji in Jharkhand
• Shravanabelagola in Karnataka
• Velankanni Church, Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu
• Gaya, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Nalanda in Bihar
• Guwahati (Kamakhya, Navagraha, and other local temples) in Assam
• Sabari Mala, Guruvayur, Ettumanoor Temple in Kerala

Eligibility

To apply for Tirth Barat Yojana, you should verify that you meet the following requirements:

• You must be a permanent resident of Chhattisgarh.
• Senior citizens should be 60 years or older.
• Persons with disabilities must be at least 18 years old.
• You should not be an income taxpayer.
• You must be physically and mentally fit to undertake the journey.
• You must not have traveled under this scheme previously.
• You should not suffer from infectious diseases like tuberculosis, leprosy, or severe heart conditions.

Please note that this is a group-based travel scheme. For instance, Anita, who is 70 years old, will travel with a group organized by the government based on a minimum passenger threshold.

Application Process

**STEP 1** – Get the application form in the prescribed format from your local Gram Panchayat, District Panchayat, or the Deputy Director of Panchayat and Social Welfare office.

**STEP 2** – Fill the form completely with all required details and attach the necessary documents listed below.

**STEP 3** – Submit the completed application to your local Gram Panchayat, District Panchayat, or the Deputy Director of Panchayat and Social Welfare.

**STEP 4** – The District Collector conducts a lottery system to select beneficiaries from the submitted applications.

**STEP 5** – If selected, you will be notified about the travel schedule and group details.

Important Guidelines:

Spouse Participation: If your spouse is selected, they can accompany you even if they are younger than 60. Simply attach their application to yours.

Group Applications: You can apply as a group of up to 25 people. One member acts as the group head. This is useful for disabled pilgrims or elderly friends traveling together.

Assistants: Depending on your age or disability status, you may be eligible to bring an assistant. If you are 65 or older, you might be allowed to bring one assistant. For disabled pilgrims, an assistant is mandatory.

Emergency Contacts: Ensure you include contact details for two nominees on your application form.

Documents Required

Keep these documents ready for your application:

• Aadhaar card
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Valid identity proof
• Chhattisgarh domicile certificate
• Proof of age (birth certificate or school records)
• Residence proof (ration card, electricity bill, or voter ID)
• Income proof (non-taxpayer status)
• BPL card (if applicable)

References

Official scheme information: Social Welfare Department, Government of Chhattisgarh

FAQ’s

Who is eligible for Tirth Barat Yojana?

Residents of Chhattisgarh who are senior citizens (60+) or persons with disabilities (18+), who are not income taxpayers and have not used this scheme before, are eligible.

How many times can I travel?

You can avail of the Tirth Barat Yojana pilgrimage benefit only once in your lifetime.

Are companions allowed?

Only the selected beneficiary is generally allowed. However, spouses may accompany the primary applicant if mentioned in the application, and assistants are allowed for specific cases involving senior citizens or people with disabilities.

How are beneficiaries chosen?

The Collector conducts a lottery system to select beneficiaries from the submitted applications.

What if I want extra facilities during the trip?

The government covers the prescribed expenses. If you desire facilities beyond the official norms, you will have to pay for those extra costs yourself.

Can I carry my jewelry or personal belongings?

For safety and security reasons, pilgrims are advised not to carry jewelry, inflammable items, or intoxicating substances.