The government has spent ₹200 crore in the last three years for the welfare of the poor among the Brahmins and has expended not less than ₹58 crore in the financial year 2016-17 to benefit 33,162 Brahmin families, Endowments Minister P. Manikyala Rao has said.
‘Divya Darshanam’
Addressing the media here on Thursday, he announced that the government would spend for the welfare of the poor among all the forward castes, including Kapus.
On the ‘Divya Darshanam’ scheme meant to provide free transportation and stay of the Hindus at 13 places of religious significance in the State, Mr. Rao said it had received encouraging response from the devout.
“We are going to extend the scheme to 2.6 lakh persons from next year,” he added.
While reiterating his resolve to renovate the dilapidated temples, Mr. Rao pointed out that the department was experiencing shortage of funds, as 95% of its revenue was being ploughed back to pay salary to staff members and help small temples perform ‘ dhoopa, deepa, naivedyam .’ He said the government was considering forming a special fund with ₹250 crore under the joint control of the Endowments Department and the TTD. While hinting at the plan to increase the pay package for temple priests, the Minister indicated that the government was contemplating introducing minimum wage to the priests having an annual income less than ₹2 lakh. “The priests need not get agitated,” he said.
“Bhumi puja for the department’s regional office in Tirupati will be performed soon,” he said.
Poster released
Under the aegis of the Ganesh Nimajjana Committee, the Minister released a poster on ‘clay Ganesha’, an activity meant to create awareness on the need to avoid Plaster of Paris or synthetic colours while making huge Ganesh idols.
Endowments Assistant Commissioner D. Bramaramba, former member of the TTD Trust Board G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, former chairman of the Srikalahastheeswara Board Kola Anand, and nimajjana committee members were present.
Earlier, Mr. Manikyala Rao laid the foundation stone for the ‘Kailasam’ guest house proposed to be built with 120 rooms at Bharadwaja Theertham by the Srikalahasti temple board.
MLA B. Gopalakrishna Reddy and board chairman P. Guravaiah Naidu were present.
