Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has announced travel assistance for poor Hindus going on pilgrimage to Mansarovar and Muktinath.
Two hundred and fifty pilgrims selected from the state for pilgrimage to Mansarovar will receive forty thousand rupees each. This is forty per cent of the estimated air travel cost of one lakh rupees. An equal number chosen to visit Muktinath would receive ten thousand rupees of the estimated travel cost of twenty-five thousand rupees. It would cost the state 1.25 crore this year.
Muslims visiting Mecca have been receiving assistance for many years. Following Ms Jayalalithaa's poll promise similar assistance was offered to Christian pilgrims visiting Jerusalem after she became the Chief Minister for the third time last year.
These announcements come at a time when Tamil Nadu is witnessing at least two hours of power cut in most parts of the state due to shortage; farmers are overlooking a monsoon failure and the public is grappling with price rise.
Critics say though pilgrimage assistance is meant for the poor, this is often availed by those who can afford the trip. As for most of the poor, even the subsidised travel cost is beyond reach.