Chhattisgarh’s Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana: 2,176 devotees from Dhmatri visit Ayodhya

20 Sep Chhattisgarh’s Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana: 2,176 devotees from Dhmatri visit Ayodhya

✎ Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana is a Chhattisgarh government scheme facilitating organised pilgrimage to Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath, with provisions for senior citizens, health checks, and multi-agency coordination for a seamless…

Subject Relevance — Where This Topic Fits

• GS Paper II — Governance, Administration and Challenges  |  GS Paper III — Welfare Schemes and their Implementation
• Prelims: Pilgrimage Tourism, Central Sector Schemes, Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, State Government Initiatives
• Essay: Religious tourism as a tool for socio-economic development, Balancing faith and governance in public policy

Quick Revision: Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana is a Chhattisgarh government scheme facilitating organised pilgrimage to Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath, with provisions for senior citizens, health checks, and multi-agency coordination for a seamless experience.

Why is this in the news?

The Chhattisgarh government’s Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana has enabled 2,176 devotees from Dhamtari district to undertake pilgrimage to Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath since its inception in March 2024. This scheme exemplifies a state-led effort to institutionalise pilgrimage tourism while addressing logistical, financial, and accessibility barriers for senior citizens and economically weaker sections. The initiative has gained prominence as a model for integrating cultural heritage, religious faith, and public welfare in governance.

Background

• The Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration in January 2024 marked a significant cultural and religious milestone in India, necessitating structured arrangements for pilgrims to visit the site.
• State governments across India have launched pilgrimage facilitation schemes to support devotees, particularly vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and low-income households.
• Chhattisgarh, with its deep-rooted cultural affinity for Lord Rama, introduced the Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana to provide a comprehensive pilgrimage package, including transportation, accommodation, health checks, and darshan arrangements.
• The scheme aligns with the broader policy objective of promoting religious tourism as a means to enhance socio-economic development in pilgrimage-centric regions.
• The inclusion of Kashi Vishwanath darshan in the itinerary reflects the state’s emphasis on multi-destination pilgrimage facilitation, leveraging the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor infrastructure.
• The scheme’s implementation involves district-level coordination through committees headed by the District Collector, ensuring grassroots-level outreach and transparency.

What is the Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana?

• It is a state-sponsored pilgrimage scheme launched by the Government of Chhattisgarh in March 2024 to facilitate organised visits of devotees to Ayodhya (for Ramlala darshan) and Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi).
• The scheme provides an all-inclusive package covering travel (by special trains), accommodation, meals, health check-ups, security, and guided darshan arrangements.
• Priority is accorded to senior citizens (55 years and above), with additional provisions for those aged 65+ travelling alone, including the option to bring an attendant.
• The selection process is managed at the district level through a committee chaired by the District Collector, ensuring equitable distribution and transparency in beneficiary selection.
• Applicants must submit identity proof, residence certificate, and emergency contact details, with a colour photograph. Selection is based on predefined quotas, and a waiting list is maintained.
• The scheme is implemented in collaboration with the Railways, Health Department, Tourism Department, and local administration to ensure seamless logistics and safety.
• Since its launch, 17 pilgrimage batches from Dhamtari district have successfully completed the journey, benefiting 2,176 devotees, including rural and urban residents.
• The initiative underscores the role of state governments in balancing religious sentiment with structured governance to enhance public welfare through pilgrimage facilitation.

Key Features

Feature	Significance
End-to-end facilitation for pilgrims	Ensures seamless travel, accommodation, and darshan arrangements, reducing logistical burdens on devotees.
Priority for senior citizens (55+ years)	Promotes inclusive participation by prioritising elderly pilgrims who may face mobility or financial constraints.
Integrated health and safety protocols	Mandatory medical examinations and on-board medical teams mitigate health risks during long-distance travel.
Inclusion of Kashi Vishwanath darshan	Expands spiritual itinerary beyond Ayodhya, enhancing cultural and religious value for participants.
District-level selection and coordination	Leverages local governance structures (Panchayats, Municipalities) for transparent and decentralised beneficiary identification.

Why it Matters

Governance and Public Service Delivery

• Demonstrates a state-led model for large-scale religious tourism, integrating welfare measures with cultural pilgrimage.
• Highlights the role of district administrations in implementing centrally-planned welfare schemes with localised adaptations.
• Showcases the use of structured selection processes (quotas, waitlists) to ensure fairness and transparency in beneficiary identification.

Social Inclusion and Equity

• Facilitates access to Ayodhya darshan for marginalised groups, including rural populations and elderly citizens, who may lack resources for independent travel.
• Prioritises senior citizens and those travelling alone, addressing socio-economic barriers to religious participation.
• Encourages gender-inclusive participation through provisions for couples and groups, reducing individual travel burdens.

Cultural and Religious Diplomacy

• Reinforces Chhattisgarh’s cultural identity by institutionalising pilgrimage to Ayodhya, a site of pan-Indian religious significance.
• Promotes inter-state religious connectivity, fostering socio-cultural linkages between Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.
• Aligns with national initiatives to enhance spiritual tourism, contributing to local economies and heritage preservation.

Administrative Efficiency

• Leverages existing local governance structures (Panchayati Raj Institutions) for beneficiary identification and coordination, reducing bureaucratic delays.
• Uses multi-modal transport (special trains) and on-ground medical teams to ensure safe and efficient pilgrimage logistics.
• Implements a tiered selection process (quotas, waitlists) to manage high demand and maintain equitable distribution of benefits.

Challenges

1. Logistical Coordination Across States

• Coordination between Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh authorities for seamless travel, accommodation, and darshan arrangements.
• Risk of delays or disruptions in special train schedules, requiring contingency planning and inter-state agreements.

UPSC Link: Inter-State Council (Article 263)

2. Health and Safety Risks During Travel

• Long-distance travel exposes elderly and infirm pilgrims to health risks, necessitating robust medical screening and on-board care.
• Potential for overcrowding at darshan sites, increasing the risk of stampedes or health emergencies.

UPSC Link: Disaster Management Framework (DM Act 2005)

3. Equitable Beneficiary Selection

• Balancing demand with limited quotas while ensuring transparency and fairness in selection, particularly for marginalised groups.
• Risk of nepotism or favouritism in local-level beneficiary identification if oversight mechanisms are weak.

UPSC Link: 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments

4. Sustainability of State-Funded Pilgrimage Schemes

• High fiscal burden on state exchequer for end-to-end facilitation, including travel, accommodation, and medical support.
• Need for periodic evaluation to assess cost-effectiveness and long-term viability of such schemes.

UPSC Link: Fiscal Federalism (Article 279A)

5. Cultural and Religious Sensitivities

• Ensuring the scheme respects diverse religious beliefs and avoids perceptions of state favouritism towards a particular faith.
• Balancing the scheme’s religious objectives with secular governance principles to prevent constitutional challenges.

UPSC Link: Freedom of Religion (Article 25)

Challenges — UPSC Perspective

Issue	Concern
Inter-state coordination	Delays or disruptions in special train schedules due to coordination gaps between state authorities.
Health risks for pilgrims	Elderly or infirm devotees facing health emergencies during long-distance travel.
Equitable beneficiary selection	Potential for bias or nepotism in local-level selection processes.
Fiscal sustainability	High recurring costs for state exchequer in funding end-to-end pilgrimage facilitation.
Religious neutrality	Ensuring the scheme does not contravene secular governance principles or constitutional provisions.

Way Forward

• Conduct a post-pilgrimage impact assessment to evaluate the scheme’s socio-economic and religious outcomes.
• Strengthen inter-state coordination mechanisms with Uttar Pradesh to streamline travel and darshan logistics.
• Enhance medical screening protocols and on-board care for elderly and high-risk pilgrims.
• Expand beneficiary outreach through digital platforms (e.g., mobile apps) to improve transparency and accessibility.
• Institute a grievance redressal mechanism at the district level to address complaints and ensure accountability.
• Explore public-private partnerships (PPPs) to reduce fiscal burden while maintaining service quality.
• Integrate skill development or cultural exchange components in future pilgrimage batches to add value beyond darshan.

UPSC Value Addition

Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana’ as reported in the news:

1. The scheme is implemented by the district administration under the supervision of the Collector.
2. The scheme prioritises senior citizens aged 55 years and above for pilgrimage to Ayodhya.
3. The scheme includes a health examination for pilgrims before the journey.
4. The scheme allows pilgrims to visit only the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and no other religious sites.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Answer: Only three — Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct as per the scheme’s implementation, prioritisation criteria, and health provisions. Statement 4 is incorrect because the scheme also includes a visit to Kashi Vishwanath as part of the pilgrimage package.

Q2. Assertion (A): State-sponsored pilgrimage schemes like ‘Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana’ are constitutionally permissible under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.

Reason (R): Article 25 guarantees the right to freedom of religion, which includes the right to practice and propagate one’s religion, subject to public order, morality, and health.

In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
3. A is true, but R is false
4. A is false, but R is true

Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. Article 25 permits state intervention in religious matters if it is for the larger public welfare and does not infringe upon the essential religious practices. State-sponsored pilgrimage schemes, being welfare measures, fall within this ambit.

Q3. Match the following provisions of the Indian Constitution with their respective Articles:

Column I (Provision) | Column II (Article)
— | —
1. Right to freedom of religion | A. Article 41
2. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) | B. Article 25
3. Protection of monuments and places of national importance | C. Article 49
4. Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes | D. Article 46

Select the correct match:

1. 1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D
2. 1-A, 2-B, 3-D, 4-C
3. 1-D, 2-C, 3-A, 4-B
4. 1-C, 2-D, 3-B, 4-A

Answer: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D — The correct matches are: 1-B (Right to freedom of religion is Article 25), 2-A (DPSP is covered under Articles 36-51, with Article 41 relating to securing right to work and public assistance), 3-C (Article 49 protects monuments and places of national importance), and 4-D (Article 46 promotes educational and economic interests of SCs).

Mains Practice Question

✍ Critically examine the constitutional and governance dimensions of state-sponsored pilgrimage schemes such as the ‘Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana’. How do such schemes balance religious freedom, public welfare, and the role of district administration in their implementation? (15 Marks)

Approach: MODEL-ANSWER SKELETON:

1. Constitutional Framework:
– Article 25 (Freedom of religion) and Article 26 (Freedom to manage religious affairs) as the foundational rights.
– State’s role under Article 41 (Directive Principles of State Policy) to provide public assistance, particularly for senior citizens and economically weaker sections.
– Balance between Article 25(2) (regulatory power of the state) and ensuring non-discrimination.

2. Governance and Implementation:
– Role of district administration (Collector-led committee) in selection, coordination, and welfare provision.
– Process of application, verification, and prioritisation (senior citizens, health checks, security).
– Integration of pilgrimage with cultural diplomacy (Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath visits).

3. Critical Analysis:
– Arguments for: Inclusivity, accessibility for marginalised groups (elderly, rural populations), and state facilitation of religious practice.
– Arguments against: Potential misuse of state funds, concerns over secularism, and blurring lines between state and religion.
– Judicial precedents: Reference to cases like ‘S.R. Bommai v. Union of India’ (1994) on secularism and ‘Commissioner of Police v. Acharya Jagadishwarananda Avadhuta’ (2004) on religious freedom.

4. Conclusion:
– State-sponsored pilgrimage schemes, if designed as welfare measures, are constitutionally permissible.
– Need for transparency, accountability, and adherence to secular principles to prevent misuse.

Source: amarujala.com

Uttar Pradesh PCS (UPPSC) — State PCS Practice

Prelims: Under the ‘Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana’ launched by the Uttar Pradesh government, how many devotees from Dharamshala district benefited by visiting Ayodhya for the darshan of Lord Ramlala?

1. 2,176
2. 2,716
3. 2,167
4. 2,617

Answer: 2,176 — The scheme facilitated 2,176 devotees from Dharamshala district to visit Ayodhya for darshan of Lord Ramlala under the Uttar Pradesh government’s initiative.

Mains: Examine the socio-economic impact of the ‘Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana’ on the pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, particularly focusing on how such schemes can boost local tourism and cultural heritage in the state. Discuss the administrative challenges in implementing such a large-scale pilgrimage scheme and suggest measures to enhance its effectiveness.

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