The free pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens operated by the Devasthan Department of the Rajasthan Government has run into severe criticism following widespread complaints of administrative apathy and poor arrangements. The journey, which was promoted as a respectful and comfortable tour for the elderly, turned into an ordeal for the participants who traveled to Kolkata and Ganga Sagar. A batch of 970 senior citizens departed from the Rana Pratap Nagar railway station in Udaipur on October 10, only to encounter dismal conditions that exposed major loopholes in the execution of the state-backed program.
The roughly 130-kilometer bus ride toward Ganga Sagar proved exceptionally grueling for the elderly passengers. When elderly women on board requested the staff to stop the vehicle for water and restroom breaks, the contractor's employees flatly refused. The bus was not halted even once during the entire transit. Matters worsened significantly when the vehicle broke down mid-journey, leaving the stranded passengers to sit by the roadside hungry and thirsty for nearly six hours without any food or water supply. No government representative was present at the site to assist them during the ordeal.
Discrepancies in accommodation standards
According to the official guidelines of the scheme, pilgrims were supposed to be accommodated in three-star hotels or equivalent facilities with a maximum occupancy of two people per room. However, the ground reality starkly contrasted with these promises. Instead of hotels, the travelers were lodged in foul-smelling dormitories where six to eight individuals were crammed into a single room with only two cots available. The air conditioning units in the rooms were kept turned off, and the management claimed they had not received funds for operating them. Furthermore, the bathrooms lacked running water, and hygiene standards were entirely neglected.
Substandard meals and mistreatment
The food arrangements were heavily criticized as elderly participants were served stale and foul-smelling leftover meals. Breakfast and tea were delayed until 11 AM, and when the tea finally arrived, it was completely cold. Lunch was served as late as 5 PM, while dinner was delayed until 12:30 AM. The situation escalated when some elderly individuals asked for a third roti after finishing two, prompting the contractor's staff to refuse the request and behave rudely toward them.
Lack of official response and forced feedback
When the pilgrims protested against the mismanagement and mistreatment, the contractor's personnel resorted to intimidation and threats. To cover up their administrative failures, the staff allegedly coerced the elderly participants into signing satisfaction forms under pressure. Government-assigned security personnel and medical teams remained absent throughout the journey. Attempts by the travelers and concerned individuals to reach out to senior officials of the Devasthan Department yielded no response as calls went unanswered.
