image credits: x.com/DBalasore
The Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana (BNTYY) plays a major role in the pilgrimage of Odisha’s senior citizen. Launched on February 1, 2016, by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with IRCTC, this scheme has enabled thousands of elderly individuals aged 60-75 to visit sacred pilgrimage sites across India. The 5th journey of the 2024-25 season flagged off from Balasore on February 27, 2025.
What is the Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yojana?
The Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana aims to support senior citizens from economically weaker sections in fulfilling their spiritual aspirations. The scheme is inclusive, catering to all regions and faiths within Odisha. It provides financial assistance and logistical support, including travel, accommodation, vegetarian meals, and medical facilities. Since its inception, over 5,000 seniors have benefited, with journeys departing from cities like Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Sambalpur, and Balasore. It is administered by the Tourism Department under the Government of Odisha.
Eligibility is straightforward: applicants must be Odisha residents aged 60-75 with priority given to those from below-poverty-line (BPL) families or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Exclusion criteria include income tax payers and retired government employees. Benefits include subsidized travel i.e 100% concession for BPL pilgrims and 50-70% for non-BPL participants.
Key Highlights of the 5th Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana Journey
The 5th journey of the 2024-25 season, launched on February 27, 2025, from Balasore, facilitated 775 senior citizens from five districts to embark on a pilgrimage. Accompanied by 25 escort officers, the group traveled in a dedicated train equipped with a doctor on board for medical emergencies. IRCTC ensured a comfortable experience by providing a travel kit containing essentials like toothbrushes, toothpaste, coconut oil, shampoo, soap, bedsheets, blankets, caps, towels, combs, mirrors, identity cards, and a branded Odisha Tourism bag.
Places Visited Under this Programme
This trip covers two prominent pilgrimage destinations in Maharashtra: Shirdi and Nashik. Shirdi, revered as the home of Sai Baba, offers a tranquil space for devotion, while Nashik, with the Trimbakeshwar Temple—one of the twelve Jyotirlingas—and sacred sites along the Godavari River, provides a blend of spirituality and history. Previous journeys have included diverse locations such as Rameswaram, Madurai, Varanasi, Allahabad, Haridwar, and Rishikesh.
Timeline of the 5th Edition of Yatra
Odisha’s tourism department has a proven record of efficiency, as seen in the 2017 season when three trains carried 750-1,000 pilgrims each in November. The Yatra was flagged of from Balasore and typically lasts a week, encompassing travel, sightseeing, and religious activities at Shirdi and Nashik. The schedule includes transportation from district headquarters to the destinations and back, with accommodations and meals provided throughout. This structured timeline ensures a smooth experience, especially for elderly first-time travelers.
