UP govt doles out Rs 25000 each to Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today distributed cheques of Rs 25,000 to pilgrims from the state who have returned from Kailash Mansarovar yatra.
During a function organised at his official residence to felicitate the pilgrims, the Chief Minister said the grant being given for the first time was "a small contribution from the government to motivate others to get information about yatra and undertake it".
Yadav said that realising the importance of Kailash Mansarovar, Ram Manohar Lohia had raised the issue for the first time in Parliament.
Religious Endowment Minister Anand Singh said that for the first time 31 pilgrims were being felicitated and given cheques of Rs 25,000 each.

The Chief Minister said that those who have undertaken the yatra were courageous and true nature lovers as it required strong will power and faith to cover the rough terrain.
He appreciated the initiative by the religious endowment department and hoped that more people would be inspired to undertake the yatra.
Speaking on the occasion, president of Mansarovar Nishkam Sewa Samiti Uday Kaushik termed the government's decision as historical and said that UP has entered the list of select states which provide financial assistance for Kailash Mansarovar yatra.