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50% increase in salaries for Hindu temple priests

  • Commendable decisions by Telugu Desam-BJP Alliance Government in Andhra Pradesh

  • Monthly stipend for unemployed youth studying Vedic Sciences

  • Financial assistance for small temples doubled

  • 87,000 acres of encroached land of temples to be recovered

Amaravati (AP) – Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has announced several significant decisions regarding temples in Andhra Pradesh following a meeting with administrative officials. These decisions include a 50% salary hike for priests in the State’s temples, ensuring that only Hindus are employed in temples. Additionally, Brahmins working in temples will receive a minimum monthly salary of ₹25,000, and unemployed youth studying Vedic sciences will be given a monthly allowance of ₹3,000.

In the meeting, Chief Minister Naidu strongly condemned the attacks on Hindu temples that occurred during the previous Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy Government. He also criticised the incident where a chariot was set on fire at one of the temples. Naidu ordered strict action against those responsible for such crimes and made it clear that forced religious conversions will not be tolerated in Andhra Pradesh.

Other decisions made by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu include :

1. Increasing the salary of 1,683 priests working in various temples across the State from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per month.

2. Doubling the financial assistance given to small temples under the ‘Dhoop Deep Naivedyam Yojana’ scheme from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 per month.

3. Adding 2 new board members to temple trusts. Currently, trusts with an income of ₹20 crore or more have 15 members, which will now be increased to 17. One of the members will be a Brahmin, and another will be a Brahmin working in the temple.

4. Appointing trustees for 1,110 temples in Andhra Pradesh. The 87,000 acres of temple land that has been illegally occupied will be legally reclaimed.

5. Providing ₹10 lakh to each temple under the Srivani Trust. If necessary, additional funds will be provided after completing surveys of the required works. Proposals should be submitted for temples that need more than ₹10 lakh.

6. The Endowments Department has decided to revive the Krishna and Godavari rivers.

7. Ensuring that every temple in the State and its surrounding areas are kept completely clean to enhance spirituality.

8. Establishing a committee of officials from the Tourism Department, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, and Forest Department to oversee the development of temples, especially those in forest areas. This committee will preserve the natural beauty and spiritually significant areas and make them more accessible to tourists.

Editorial Perspective

Government should now hand over all the temples under its control to the devotees. Managing temples is not the Government’s job; it is a service by the devotees, and therefore, temples should be handed over to them.

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