The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Archakas to get insurance, gratuity benefits

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Archakas to get insurance, gratuity benefits

By V.N. Harinath

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 29 . The Endowments Department is embarking on the payment of Rs.1 lakh each as insurance-cum-gratuity to 1.6 lakh archakas, a move expected to come as a boon to this section of the department staff who work towards improved interaction with devotees.

Although the scheme, financed by the Life Insurance Corporation of India, was planned to be put in place from October 2, which is Gandhi Jayanti and also the day when the Endowments Minister, M. Satyanarayana Rao, completes 50 years of public life, it is likely to come into effect from Vijaya Dasami on October 22.

MSR keen on gesture

The Minister is stated to be keen to extend the benefit to the archakas, who, he believes, form the foundation of the department.

He also intends the scheme to be a token to mark his golden jubilee as a politician.

The delay is attributed to lack of information about the number of beneficiaries of the 25,000 Class 6 `C' temples, who will be the first to avail of the gratuity to be paid on retirement or death. They are to be in the age group of 18 to 65 years.

Compilation of statistics

An official of the department told The Hindu on Wednesday that the Andhra Pradesh Archaka Samakhya was cooperating in the compilation of statistics pertaining to the strength of the archakas.

He said the initial contribution of over Rs. 36.34 crores was to be paid from the Archaka Welfare Fund in five yearly instalments, as per the LIC's offer.

The scheme is being taken up following a representation made by leaders of the Archaka Samakhya on August 19. The LIC submitted its quotation a week later, according to the official.

Leaders of the Samakhya, particularly those belonging to the Telangana region, are busy collecting information on the number of temples in each district and the number of archakas employed in them.

The task, which began 20 days ago, is expected to be completed by Vijaya Dasami day.

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