CHENNAI: Fulfilling yet another promise made during her campaign for the 2011 Assembly elections, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa
on Tuesday announced grants for Hindus to undertake a pilgrimage to Manasarovar in China and Mukthinath in Nepal in the State Assembly.
To visit Manasarovar and Mukthinath it would cost Rs One lakh and Rs 25,000 respectively. The State would provide a grant of Rs 40,000 and Rs 10,000 per devotee respectively.
The assistance would be given to 250 devotees visiting Manasarovar and 250 devotees visiting Mukthinath. They would be selected by the External Affairs Ministry.
Recalling that she has already extended similar assistance to Christians for pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Jaya said that though many Hindus wish to visit Manasarovar and Mukthinath at least once in their life, they find they can’t afford the trip. Leaders of various political parties hailed the measure.