Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday assured the House that the state government will design a scheme providing financial assistance to the devotees taking annual walking pilgrimage to Pandharpur.
Responding to a private member’s resolution on the floor of the House, Sawant said that the finance would be provided to the groups, before they start the pilgrimage.
BJP MLA Premendra Shet had moved a private member’s resolution on Friday. He demanded that the state government should frame necessary policies to finance the Pandharpur Yatra termed as Wari undertaken by different groups across the state on the auspicious day of “Ashadi Kartiki Ekadashi”.
Sawant said that there are at least 5,000 pilgrims (Warkaris) conducting walking pilgrimage travelling 370 kms distance between Goa to Pandharpur (Maharashtra) spread over 14-15 days.
He said that he has already spoken to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting him to allot land at Pandharpur for a shelter home for the warkaris.
He said that the state government will design a scheme providing financial assistance to Warkaris. Sawant said that either State Art and Culture Department or State Social Welfare department would be made a nodal agency to implement this scheme.
