Engaging women as temple priests is part of larger social engineering, says Tamil Nadu Religious Endowments Minister

The proposal to nominate women and members of different communities as priests in temples in Tamil Nadu is not only a spiritual exercise, however is part of a larger social engineering to make sure equal alternative to all, a precept the DMK authorities is dedicated to, Puucho Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister P.K. Sekar Babu has stated in an interview. Edited excerpts:

You introduced that priests can be appointed to temples administered by the HR&CE Department. How would you facilitate this? Do you anticipate response from aspirants?

Aspiring candidates shall be skilled and appointed as priests in temples in accordance with the foundations. The authorities will certainly help women who’re occupied with taking over the job of a temple priest. I’m stunned on the questions being raised on the transfer to nominate women as priests. When women may very well be engaged in lots of different works in temples, why can’t they be engaged as priests? When we’re open to appointing individuals from any neighborhood as priests in temples, why prohibit women? We have additionally acquired representations from women looking for a chance to serve as priests. Engaging women as priests is not merely a spiritual exercise, however is part of a larger social transformation initiative to make sure equal participation — a precept the DMK authorities is dedicated to.

As regards taking over the job of a temple priest as a profession, I’m positive it is not simply the cash that issues to individuals. Doing the divine responsibility of serving God provides large satisfaction. Having stated that, I’d additionally add that the remuneration of priests in smaller temples that don’t generate a lot revenue is into account for revision.

What plans do you need to promote temples? Many temple lands have been encroached upon and properties have been let loose for decrease leases…

Transparency would be the foremost pillar of temple administration. We have already revealed the title paperwork for greater than 3.50 lakh acres of temple lands on our web site. The course of of retrieving the stability temple lands is below approach. A large drive has been launched to establish properties in city areas, evict the encroachers and fence the premises.

An in depth evaluate has been undertaken to reach on the demand assortment and stability of every property, and the identical will quickly be revealed on the official web site. The defaulters’ record may even be revealed quickly. Necessary provisions have been created within the on-line software program to add the authorized price range statements of every temple in order that anybody might look at it. Special groups have been fashioned to revise the lease of outlets on temple lands, acquire dues and expedite the disposal of associated circumstances pending within the courts.

Do you’ve gotten any plans to deploy IT functions to result in effectivity in temple administration and asset administration?

We are going to conduct a drone and Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) survey to digitise each inch of temple property and publish the identical on the official web site with 3D photographs. We have commenced the digitisation of everlasting registers, information and linked data and, wherever doable, these data can be revealed on-line. More on-line companies shall be launched to help devotees with making bookings for the supply of prasadam and enterprise uzhavaara panigal (voluntary cleansing service in temples), and live-streaming of pujas, archanai and different necessary occasions shall be undertaken.

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Many historical temples appear to lack the sources for renovation to showcase their significance and architectural marvel. Do you’ve gotten any plans to develop them and put them on the tourism map of Tamil Nadu?

The HR&CE Department administers over 38,000 temples, of which greater than 34,000 have an annual revenue of lower than ₹10,000. And, 12,959 temples are coated below the Oru Kaala Poojai scheme, as part of which they get a quarterly receipt from mounted deposits. It is true that many temples don’t have adequate monetary sources to undertake renovation work. The Chief Minister has promised to spend ₹1,000 crore to undertake Thiruppanigal (renovation work) in temples. We are within the course of of making ready the estimates for it. I guarantee you that every one temples that want sources to undertake renovation work shall be given the required help.

Besides, temple tanks shall be renovated and temple automobiles repaired and rebuilt. We are carefully coordinating with the Tourism Department to advertise spiritual tourism, for which our State is well-known. Basic facilities for pilgrims shall be supplied in all temples in order that they will have a memorable darshan.

The poor wage construction of priests typically makes them depending on contributions from devotees…

We have been receiving grievances relating to the poor wage construction of the priests, and have began enquiring about these grievances. There are numerous varieties of staff in temples, like time scale, contract, each day wage, consolidated pay, service staff, and so forth. There is not a lot uniformity within the deployment of personnel in temples. The Chief Minister shall be apprised of this problem, and a possible resolution shall be arrived at quickly.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected temple revenues in 2020-2021 when in comparison with the earlier fiscal?

The pandemic has affected temple revenues. To mitigate the woes of priests and different temple staff who don’t have a set month-to-month revenue, they’re being supplied a one-time monetary help of ₹4,000, 10 kg of rice and 15 varieties of groceries. Sufficient steps have been taken to vaccinate priests and different staff. This drive will proceed until everybody is vaccinated.

What is the standing of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ proposal for a website to assemble a duplicate of the Tirumala temple in Chennai?

The proposal is into account. The TTD temple in T. Nagar is drawing a big quantity of devotees. It can be good to have a duplicate of the Tirumala temple in Chennai. We will convey it to the discover of the Chief Minister.

Critics say the DMK is “anti-Puucho”. Your views as the HR&CE Minister?

I strongly object to this. It is being propagated by some sections who couldn’t tolerate the achievements of this Government, which has gained the help of the devotees in a brief span of time. I guarantee you that this authorities is not going to offend anybody’s sentiments by its actions and can solely shield the curiosity of each devotee. Archanai in Tamil shall be made out there in all temples on the request of devotees.