Hefty pay hike for archakas

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 6. The Government effected a hefty pay hike for archakas, almost doubling the existing rates in line with the Sixth Pay Revision Commission (1999) already implemented for Government employees and secular staff in the Endowments Department.

The Endowments Minister, Mr. D. Sivarama Raju, announced the revision at a press conference, thus meeting a major demand of archakas who, in fact, are planning an agitation starting with a rally here on November 12. The department's Commissioner, Mr. Ajeya Kallam, informed The Hindu later that the new scales would be notified soon.

The new scales would apply to four categories of religious staff all known by the common nomenclature "archaka"--Pradhana Archaka, Upa Pradhana Archaka, Mukhya Archaka and Archaka, and seven categories of Vedapandits--Ghanapati, Jhatapati, Kramapati, Moolam, Sthanacharya, Spthasthi and seven categories of paricharikas covering those playing even musical instruments--paricharika, cook, assistant cook, sannai, dolu, stuthi and talam. The post of Upa Mukhya archaka was abolished under the revision which would place an additional burden of Rs. 7 crores on the department (and not the Government) benefiting a total about 1,200 employees under all these categories.

Mr. Sivarama Raju admitted that the Government did commit a mistake by implementing the Sixth PRC only for the secular (ministerial staff) and not for archakas through whom the temples and the department were normally identified.

The Minister clarified that the new scales would be applicable only to those archakas working in temples coming under A and B categories. Those working under the C category temples (so categorised based on their annual income being below Rs. 50,000), would not be given the benefit because they were allowed to enjoy temple lands.

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Section  : Southern States
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