The Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Endowment Minister A Indrakaran Reddy today vowed that the temples in the State will get back their past glory and offered to resolve the demands of Archakas and staff, including salaries, daily pujas, upkeep of the temples, steps to increase revenue and protect temple lands.
The committee asked the officials to prepare a list of temples with less establishment expenditure and more than 30 per cent and also sought about the details of the Archakas, outsourcing and temporary employees whose salaries are to be increased. The Committee directed the officials to get the details on the endowment lands and steps to prevent illegal occupation of the same. The officials were also asked to find ways to increase the revenue through construction of buildings to earn income.
Indrakaran Reddy asked the officials to implement tribunal directions with regard to endowment issues by taking help of district Collectors and Superintendents of Police. “The government is giving Rs 1.08 crore towards payment of Rs 6,000 towards regular rituals of pujas in 1,805 temples across the State”, he said. The committee also sought amendment to the law, speed up works of temples construction in the weaker sections colonies under Common Good Fund, provide more facilities with a focus on sanitation and steps to fill vacant posts.
Sub-Committee members, including ministers Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao and Talasani Srinivas Yadav, government advisor K V Ramana Chary, Secretary Shiva Shankar, joint secretaries Krishnaveni, Srinivas Rao and Deputy Collector Srinivas Reddy were present. (NSS)