Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Temple priests demand approval of wages

Photo: P. Goutham

Fight for rights: Members of Temple Priests Welfare Association taking out a procession in Salem on Monday in support of their demands. —

SALEM: Members of the Temple Priests Welfare Association took out a procession here on Monday urging the State Government to approve the wages and maintain the service register for priests coming under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department.

They claimed that the priests were not able to get any benefits, including pension as the department was yet to approve the wages.

They also demanded the Government to initiate efforts to enrol all the priests working in about 35,000 temples coming under its control as members of the welfare board established for priests.

Adequate funds should be allotted to ensure the effective functioning of the board, they said.

The Government should allot 25 per cent of the revenue from the big temples to provide a monthly assistance of Rs. 1,000 to the priests working in small temples in the State.

It should also enhance the pension amount to Rs. 1,500.

The Government should increase the amount given under the ‘Oru Kala Puja’ scheme, priests demanded.

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