Madhya Pradesh encourages pilgrimages to Lanka

India's Madhya Pradesh government has extended a subsidy scheme for pilgrimages to places of religious importance in other countries including Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, the government will now provide a 50 percent subsidy on expenses (maximum Rs 30,000) to the state's citizens for pilgrimages to Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

The scheme is already available for pilgrimages to China and Pakistan.

Six years ago, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had taken the initiative to provide financial assistance to pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar. A beneficiary has to make a claim for reimbursement within 60 days after the journey, to the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC) along with details of expenses.

Under the scheme, a resident of Madhya Pradesh is eligible for this subsidy once in his/her lifetime.