Chennai:The Tamil Nadu government has invited applications from pilgrims belonging to the Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh communities to avail of financial assistance for visiting their religious shrines across India and abroad. Under this special welfare scheme, financial assistance of ₹10,000 per person will be granted to a total of 120 beneficiaries—comprising 50 Buddhists, 50 Jains, and 20 Sikhs—amounting to an overall allocation of ₹12 lakh.

Eligible pilgrimage destinations for Buddhist applicants include key spiritual centres such as Bodh Gaya and Rajgir-Vaishali in Bihar, Kushinagar and Sarnath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and Lumbini in Nepal. For Jain pilgrims, recognized holy sites encompass Dilwara Temple, Ranakpur, and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan; Shikharji in Jharkhand; Palitana in Gujarat; Pawapuri in Bihar; and Shravanabelagola in Karnataka.

Sikh pilgrims can undertake journeys to sacred shrines including the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Punjab; Takht Sri Patna Sahib in Bihar; Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra; alongside prominent historical Gurudwaras in Pakistan such as Gurdwara Janam Asthan (Nankana Sahib), Gurdwara Sacha Sauda (Mandi Chuharkana), Gurdwara Panja Sahib (Hasan Abdal), and Gurdwara Dehra Sahib. Pilgrims intending to undertake their journeys during the ongoing financial year are encouraged to apply.

Application forms can be obtained free of charge from the District Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Offices or District Minorities Welfare Offices located across all District Collectorates. Alternatively, forms can be downloaded online from the official portal at www.bcmbcmw.tn.gov.in. Duly filled application forms, accompanied by the required supporting documents, must be submitted to the Commissioner, Directorate of Minorities Welfare, Kalas Mahal Heritage Building, 1st Floor, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005. The final date for submitting applications is January 31, 2027,

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