Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has directed all district collectors to personally intervene and expedite the collection of consent forms from beneficiaries under the Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana (SJDY), as preparations are underway for the formal launch of the scheme.
In a letter issued on January 27, 2026, Tourism Director Deepankar Mohapatra, expressed concern over the slow pace of consent collection in most districts, despite prior instructions and coordination with district officials.
According to the communication, the Department of Tourism has already issued revised operational guidelines for the SJDY, under which senior citizens aged 60–75 years receiving old-age pensions and widows up to 75 years covered under central and state widow pension schemes will be automatic beneficiaries. However, participation in the scheme is subject to mandatory consent from each beneficiary.
The department had earlier held an interaction with District Social Security Officers (DSSOs) on January 13, 2026, instructing them to collect consent forms from eligible beneficiaries on pension distribution day (January 15, 2026) at the respective Gram Panchayat level. Despite this, the response has been reported as unsatisfactory in a majority of districts.
A district-wise status of consent collection as of January 22, 2026, has been annexed to the letter, highlighting significant gaps in implementation.
Emphasising the urgency, the Tourism Director urged collectors to take personal interest in accelerating the process, noting that the state has set an ambitious target of 5,000 beneficiaries in FY 2025–26 and 30,000 beneficiaries in FY 2026–27 under the scheme.
The Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana aims to facilitate pilgrimage opportunities for elderly and widowed beneficiaries, ensuring inclusive access to religious tourism initiatives of the state.
