PANAJI: Days after AAP promised Goans free pilgrimages if the party forms the government, CM Pramod Sawant on Friday announced free trips to well-known temples in the state for senior citizens from December 1 till December 19.
Early this week, AAP national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had promised Goans free pilgrimages to Ayodhya, Shirdi, Velankanni and Ajmer Sharif if the party forms the government in the state.
Sawant said that most Goans have not visited the temples of Goa.
“We have many temples in the state and people from outside the state come to Goa and visit these temples. We are celebrating the 60th year of Goa’s Liberation, and I thought that it is important that people from Goa above 60 should do Goa darshan, and the social welfare department will launch the scheme for temple visit from December 1,” Sawant said.
The chief minister said that the scheme would be implemented through the deputy collector, and senior citizens should register their names before the deputy collector and board the Kadamba bus. Sawant said that senior citizens should submit their Aadhaar card and voter ID to avail the scheme.
“If you board the bus in Mapusa, you will be taken up to Canacona and after visiting different temples the entire day, the social welfare department will make arrangements to drop you at your door step in the evening,” he said.
Sawant also said that Goa is blessed with beautiful temples, and the surroundings are also pristine.
He said that people should get an opportunity to experience Goa culture by visiting Ravindra Bhavan among other places.
Meanwhile, the chief minister said that the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation will float a tender inviting bidders to prepare a master plan for Mapusa. “Before the code of conduct comes into force, we will take up the work of the master plan to carry out systemic development of Mapusa,” he said.
