Bengaluru, Oct 12: A special pooja will be offered at all temples in Karnataka that come under the Muzrai department on Vijayadashami, against the spread of COVID-19 and for the control of a possible third wave, Minister for Muzrai, Haj & Wakf, Shashikala Jolle said here on Tuesday.
Vijayadashami, the last day of the ongoing Dasara festivities, will be celebrated on October 15.
"As we celebrate the victory of good over evil on Vijayadashami, it has been decided to pray to goddess Chamundeshwari on behalf of the department, for the safety of our people from COVID-19 and its ill effects, end of the pandemic, and for control of the the possible third wave, which according to experts is likely to affect children the most," Jolle said.
Speaking to reporters here, she said for the good health and prosperity of the people of the state, especially the children, on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, a special pooja will be organised at Muzrai temples across the state.
"Karnataka Rajya Dharmika Parishat will be issuing guidelines to all the temples under the endowment department, regarding the special pooja to be offered," she added.
A total of 34,563 temples in the state come under the department that have been categorized as grade A, B and C, based on their revenue generation.
A total of 207 temples with annual revenue above Rs 25 lakh come under category A, 139 temples between Rs five lakh to Rs 25 lakh come under category B, and 34,217 temples with less than Rs 5 lakh annual revenue under category C.
Jolle said it has been decided to implement salary as per the sixth pay commission to select Muzrai temple priests and staff, who are currently drawing salary as per the fifth commission.
Noting that currently 1,034 priests and staff are currently getting salary under the fifth pay commission, she said that implementation of the sixth pay commission will not have extra financial burden on the government, as up to 35 per cent of the revenue from the A and B category temples will be utilised for this purpose.
"The new salary implementation is only for those A and B category temples, whose revenue generation is good and where fifth pay commission is already implemented. It is not for C grade temples, whose financial condition is not good and needs improvement.....what needs to be done to improve conditions at C category temples is being worked out, also staff there, are mostly not permanent," she added.
There are about 3,918 staff and 31,701 priests working at temples under the Muzarai department.
Among priests 2,000 come under grade A , 800 under B and 28,901 under C category.
Also an insurance programme is being introduced for priests and employees working at Muzrai temples, Jolle said, as the first step the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana will be extended to them by filing an annual premium of Rs 330, which may cost Rs 1.22 crore to the government, and the Chief Minister has agreed to it.
Further, health and life/accident insurance for the Muzrai priests/staff and their family members is being worked out, she said, adding that the department has sought quotations from insurance companies and banks and it will be finalised. "This will be applicable to staff and priests of all A, B and C category temples."
The Minister further said that the department has decided to come out with an Integrated Temple Management System (ITMS), aimed at providing all details about temples, sevas offered there and its rate chart, for the sake of devotees and tourists, also it will help in maintaining transparency.
In the first phase 207 temples coming under category A will be brought under the ITMS with a hope to launch it by November, she said, 139 B category temples will be considered in the second phase.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The Kerala Assembly on Monday paid homage to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who died last month, and described him as a unique personality, able administrator, brilliant economist, and a determined patriot.
Cutting across politics, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer and other leaders hailed the contribution of Singh in various fields.
The 13th session of the 15th Kerala Assembly, which began on Friday, was adjourned on Monday after paying tribute to the former Prime Minister.
During his speech, Chief Minister Vijayan recalled that apart from being the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh was known in many capacities as an internationally renowned economist, exemplary teacher, and eminent bureaucrat, and as the country's finance minister.
There may not be another person who has held all the pivotal positions that shape India's economic policy, he said.
The CM especially mentioned about the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Information Act launched by Singh's government.
Though the CPI(M) had some differences of opinion about certain policies of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, his stand for protecting constitutional values and the democratic system of the country was commendable, Vijayan further said.
Through the demise of Singh, the country had lost a gentle and determined patriot and a brilliant economist who firmly believed in secular values, he said.
Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan recalled various initiatives implemented by Singh in finding out solutions to the problems faced by common people.
He said Singh was a leader who strongly upheld the secular and democratic values and the one who had unwavering commitment and dedication towards the country.
During the address in the House, the Congress leader also said that Singh had courageously implemented the economic reforms in the country despite criticisms, and it had helped the nation progress financially.
Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer also said that the country had lost a brilliant economist and a determined statesman.
Singh's contributions to nation building as a finance minister and a Prime Minister went beyond his financial expertise, Shamseer added.
Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, on December 26 at the age of 92.