Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Goa, has announced the schedule for the Mukhyamantri Dev Darshan Yatra Yojana for the year 2025–26, under which senior citizens are provided one-time travel assistance in their lifetime to visit sacred pilgrimage centres outside Goa.
Under the State scheme, four pilgrimage trips have been arranged this year in association with the Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (GTDC).
The destinations included in the itinerary are Vellankani and Ayodhya.
As per the announced schedule, the pilgrimage tours will be conducted on January 9, 2026 (Vellankani), January 19, 2026 (Ayodhya), January 26, 2026 (Ayodhya) and February 2, 2026 (Ayodhya).
The pilgrimage will be conducted under an agency package, as per the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of Goa and agencies appointed by the Directorate of Social Welfare from time to time.
Each tour will be organised for a group of not less than 750 pilgrims, or as per the carrying capacity of the train, whichever is lower.
To be eligible under the scheme, applicants must be between 50 and 70 years of age. One attendant is permitted to accompany each beneficiary free of cost.
Applicants must be physically and mentally fit to undertake the journey and should not be suffering from communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, heart ailments, leprosy or COVID-19.
A self-medical certificate or self-declaration must be submitted through the designated portal.
Applicants are also required to submit a self-declaration stating that they have not availed benefits under the scheme earlier.
Eligible and interested senior citizens are required to apply online through the official web portal or mobile application developed for the scheme at www.yatraconnect.in. The Directorate of Social Welfare has urged citizens to complete their registration at the earliest to avail the benefit.
