Andhra Christian leaders suggest guidelines for using Govt. subsidy

Christian leaders in the state of Andhra Pradesh have formed a set of guidelines to distribute and manage the government allocated travel subsidy for Christian pilgrims to Holy Land.

Following the Government proposal of funding poor Christians to go on pilgrimages, the state Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy allocated 20–million–rupees, which ends on March 32, 2009.

The Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches submitted their proposal to the state government, suggesting a series of norms to distribute the money among the poor Christians.

The federation, in its guidelines, estimates that a five–day pilgrimage to Israel, including airfare and accommodation, would cost approximately 45,000 rupees. It suggests the government subsidize 20,000 rupees for each pilgrim.

Based on that figure, the current year's allocation could help send around 1,000 pilgrims to Israel, according to Father Thumma.

The federation has also requested the government for setting a five–member screening committee to select the applicants, especially those who are poor and needy.

Apart from Christians, the federal government has also rendered a subsidy to Muslims to make the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Andhra Pradesh has over 1.2 million Christians, 20 million Hindus and 7 million Muslims.