Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin will attend a significant gathering of village temple priests in Mylapore, Chennai, on Saturday. The event, organized by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department, aims to support priests serving in village temples, especially in areas with Adi Dravidar and tribal communities.
Under Stalin’s leadership since 2021, financial aid for temple renovations in Adi Dravidar and tribal regions has increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.50 lakh per temple. Over Rs 106.25 crore has already been distributed to nearly 5,000 temples for renovation projects statewide.
Apart from infrastructure enhancements, the government has raised the monthly pension for eligible village temple priests to Rs 4,000. Additionally, a dedicated Welfare Board offers various benefits like educational scholarships, marriage assistance, and family welfare funds.
During the conference, the Chief Minister will inaugurate a new scheme providing a monthly incentive of Rs 1,500 to village temple priests. He is expected to outline the government’s vision for bolstering rural temple administration and ensuring the well-being of priests and their families.
HR and CE Minister P. K. Sekar Babu, senior department officials, Chennai Corporation Mayor R. Priya, Members of Parliament, and Members of the Legislative Assembly will be present at the event, highlighting the government’s commitment to grassroots religious workers and heritage conservation efforts.
