Bhubaneswar: The registration for Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana (BNTYY) of the Odisha government for the current financial year will commence on July 17 (Thursday).

The registration process for the pilgrimage scheme will continue till August 15, said Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida in a press conference in the capital city here today.

Eligible senior citizens can register themselves for the scheme through both online and offline modes between July 17 and August 15. They can visit dedicated website yatra.odisha.gov.in for online registration or register themselves with the respective block or district administrations through offline mode, added Parida.

Eligibility criteria and other details of the scheme have been made available on the website of Tourism Department (dot.odisha.gov.in), said the Deputy Chief Minister.

The scheme was launched by the state government in 2016 to facilitate pilgrimage of senior citizens of Odisha to various places of religious importance across the country.

The Tourism Department of the state government in collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is implementing the scheme.

Under the scheme, as many as 37,555 senior citizens from various districts have so far got the opportunity to visit pilgrimage sites like Madurai, Rameswaram, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Ajmer, Pushkar, Tirupati Balaji, Vellore, Srikalahasti, Shirdi, Nashik, Triyombakeshwar, Velankanni, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Sukeswara Kali (Kolkata), Kamakhya, Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan in 40 trips, said the Tourism Department.

In the financial year 2024-25, altogether 7,967 senior citizens got the opportunity to visit pilgrimage sites like Sirdi, Nashik, Dakhineswar Kali (Kolkata), Kamakhya, Ayodhya and Varanasi in 10 trips, it added.

Eligibility criteria & Documents required

Senior citizens aged between 60 and 75 years are selected for the scheme irrespective of their caste and religion. For the selection of beneficiaries, any one of the documents as proof of their address/ age/ identity/ category as prescribed by Govt. of India/ Govt. of Odisha.

Besides, MGNREGS Job card/ Antyodaya/ Arnapurna/ Old age pension/ Widow pension/ Ration card under NFSA, in which name and age are clearly mentioned, shall be acceptable as EWS Category proofs of financial backwardness. In the case of a senior citizen couple, either one of them must be above 60 years of age. Senior citizens between the age of 70 and 75 can take one person over the age of 18 with them as an attendant while traveling.

Facilities available under the scheme

The state government provides the following facilities to the pilgrims under the scheme: 

Transport facility to the pilgrims from their villages to the respective railway stations and back.

Accommodation, transportation and food and beverage arrangements for all pilgrims during the journey by IRCTC.

Travel guard, guide, travel insurance and medical facilities by IRCTC.