CHENNAI: HR&CE Minister PK Sekarbabu inaugurated the initial phase of ‘Arupadai Veedu Aanmiga Payanam’ for senior citizens at Arulmigu Muthukumarasamy Thirukoil in Kandha Kottam on Sunday. He also gave away travel kits, including bags, to 207 selected senior citizens embarking on the pilgrimage to Lord Murugan’s six abodes.
Addressing reporters, he said that the department has allocated Rs 15,830 per devotee for the pilgrimage and the state government has earmarked Rs 1.6 crore to facilitate the journey for 1,000 senior citizens.
He added that the scheme has received a large number of applications and beneficiaries were identified after thoroughly scrutinising them. The minister assured that 1,000 senior citizens would undertake the pilgrimage this year.
Sekarbabu also said that 300 devotees would embark on the Rameswaram-Kashi pilgrimage this year.
The first phase of the pilgrimage will commence on January 31, with the state government allocating `75 lakh as subsidy.