Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Call to activate welfare board for priests

Special Correspondent

SALEM: Village priests urged the State Government to activate the welfare board meant for them, which they said was established four years back.

Participating at the Salem district conference, these priests, who met here on Monday under the Grama Koil Poojarigal Peravai (Village Temple Priests Federation), pointed out that many of them were languishing in poverty. Despite the establishment of a welfare board for them, the Government had not taken necessary steps to activate it. Hence they urged the Government to make the board functional with immediate effect.

`Give house site pattas'

The conference, presided over by the senior vice-president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), S. Vedantham, also pointed out that priests who were living in poverty should be given house site pattas. Free training on `Agama Poojas' should be provided to all village priests in temples run by the Government.

The Government had sanctioned old age pension to 2,500 village priests so far and the same should be increased to 5,000 priests, it said.

Free power sought

They also wanted the Government to provide free electricity to all temples in the State. As in the case of sivachariars and bhattachariars, who were being nominated as trustees in various temples, village priests also should be given a chance to become trustees in temples.

Addressing the conference, Mr. Vedantham said that after the interference of the Government in temple administration, many temples had lost its land and revenue. "Neither an MP nor an MLA has the will to raise this issue at the appropriate forum," he said and added that many temples in the State despite having land were struggling even to perform a single `kala pooja'.

`Mute spectator'

The Government, instead of restoring the land to temples, was remaining a mute spectator. While many unorganised workers benefited through Government welfare scheme, six lakh village priests in the State were left to suffer. "Priests should unite and get properly trained. Only then will they get respect and recognition," he said.

The Salem district president, P. Vasu, welcomed. The VHP State president, V. Mayilsamy, presided.

Those who spoke included VHP State general secretary R.S. Narayanaswamy and State organiser C. Kanakarajan. The joint organiser, Nagaraj, proposed a vote of thanks.

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Call to activate welfare board for priests

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