Senior Citizens Urge Odisha Govt To Arrange Special Darshan At Puri Jagannath Temple

Bhubaneswar: After people with disabilities, senior citizens have sought steps by the Odisha government to facilitate smooth ‘darshan’ Shree Jagannath temple in the pilgrim town of Puri.

Voicing concern over the hardship faced by the elderly people visiting the 12th century shrine, the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of Odisha has urged the state government top take necessary steps to ensure hassle-free darshan of the Lords by them, sources said.

In a letter to the Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), the federation stated that difficulties are being faced by the elderly people in standing in the long queue for three to four hours before entering the Temple complex.

Noting that senior citizens are not physically capable of withstanding such a strain for having a ‘darshan’, the federation members have demanded that the state government and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) designate a special time slot for darshan exclusively for the senior citizens in the shrine.

It may be noted here that the National Policy for Senior Citizens, 2011 and State Policy for Senior Citizens, 2016 provide for barrier-free access to elderly people at all places of worship.