AP Hikes Wages of Priests, Increases Rate for Naivedyam

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has announced a wage increase to priests to Rs 15,000 per month from Rs 10,000, as also a hike of the rate for Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam to Rs 10,000 from Rs 5,000 per month.

He said a committee comprising ministers of three departments would be set up for promotion of temple tourism. “Two more members would be appointed to the Temple Trust Boards,” he said at a review meeting he held on Tuesday with the Endowments department.

Naidu called for plans to develop temple tourism in AP. A committee with the ministers of Endowment, Forest and Tourism departments would be set up for promotion of religious tourism, he said.

He said, “If the income of a temple is more than Rs 20 crore, then the number of its board members would be increased from the present 15 to 17. Also, as per the promise we gave during the election, there will be one Brahmin and one Nayee Brahmin among such temple trust board members.”

Naidu said the salary of purohits will be increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. As many as 1683 purohits will be benefited from this and the government is spending Rs 10 crore per annum for this purpose.

For Dhupa Deepa Naivedyam, the present rate of Rs 5,000 will be increased to Rs 10,000. For this, the government would incur an additional burden of Rs 32 crore.

Naidu said unemployed Vedic scholars would get a dole of Rs 3,000 and the minimum wage for Nayee Brahmins would be Rs 25,000.

Under CGF, some works had been proposed through Srivani Trust funds by the previous government. Some of these were completed and some works were yet to be started. “We will complete the already started works. Works of 1797 temples under TTD Srivari Trust in different areas have not started. These have been scrapped by the present government.”

The CM suggested that the Godavari and Krishna river ‘aarti’ should be organised again. An online system should be implemented in every temple and all services should be available online. “Devotees who come to the temple should not only have darshan but also be given an opportunity to perform special pujas. If necessary, construction of hotels should be taken up in partnership with private parties to provide facilities to the devotees, the CM said.

The names of those who have made donations to temples should be made public, he said.

Naidu said protecting the sanctity of the temples should be top priority. “Devotees visit temples for peace and to share their sorrows with God. There is a need to enable the devotees to have Darshan in a good atmosphere. Families coming to temples should be provided facilities to stay for a day or two.”

The chief minister said that henceforth there shall be no forceful conversions. “We should organise programmes against conversions. Non-Hindus shall not be allowed into the temples as the sentiments of the devotees are very important. Give importance to Agama Shastra.”