Congress hails initiative to protect temples and archakas

Hyderabad, Apr 27 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee today hailed the decision of the state government to protect temples and the rights of the Archakas (temple priests).

In a statement here, party official spokes person N Tulasi Reddy welcomed the government's decisions to appoint a Pay Revision Commission (PRC), to allow the archakas to retain the gifts of devotees during arti, render financial help for construction of houses, children's education, marriages, sanction of scholarships, grant of exgratia for accidental deaths and provision of group insurance among other facilities.

He said the decision of the state government to sanction Rs 1,000 for regular rituals and Rs 1,500 for the archakas of temples not patronised by devotees would go a long way in resolving the problems of poor archakas.

UNI JRK VV ADB1650