Honorarium of Part-Time Priests Hiked

• 18 May 2023

Why in News?

On 16 May 2023, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved the proposal to increase the honorarium of part-time priests of State Direct Charge Temples.

Key Points:

• The Chief Minister has also approved the proposal to increase the honorarium of the part-time priests of the State Direct Charge Temples under the Devasthan Department. With this, the honorarium of priests will increase from Rs.3000 per month to Rs.5000 per month.
• With this decision of the Chief Minister, the priests will get financial support.
• Along with this, a financial provision of Rs 5.93 crore has also been approved for the work related to decoration, painting, repair and upgradation in 593 temples under the Devasthan Department.
• It is worth mentioning that the honorarium of part-time priests of self-sufficient temples has already been increased from Rs.3000 to Rs.5000.
• According to the proposal, Rs 5.93 crore (up to Rs 1 lakh per temple) has been sanctioned for 390 government direct charge temples and 203 government self-sufficient temples. With the said approval, various upgradation works will be done in the temples.
• In view of the faith of the people of the state, the state government is getting the temples decorated, painted and repaired to strengthen them.
• In the budget for the year 2023-24, an announcement was made by the Chief Minister regarding the increase in the honorarium of the priests and the repair and upgradation work of the temples.