Operate Welfare Board: Priests Federation to Govt

Tiruchirapalli, Jan 31: The Federation of village temple priests has appealed to the Tamil Nadu Government to order the immediate functioning of the Village Temple Priests Welfare Board, which was constituted one year ago.

Federation's State Convener A K Sounderrajan, briefing the media the resolutions adopted at their State General Council meeting held here last night, said the meeting noticed that non-functioning of the Board had lost the confidence of the priests in the Government.

It appealed to the Government to pay monthly pension of Rs 750 to all the 4,000 old-aged priests immediately and also to convene the village temple priests pension committee meeting immediately.

It also decided to observe February 20, the birth day of Bhagavan Shri Ramakrishna as 'Priests Day', he added.

It also wanted that the cattles, which were donated to the temples by the devotees, should not be auctioned but be given to the respective temple priests free of cost.

UNI