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Bengaluru: Government mulls pension, life, health insurance for temple priests

  •   Tue, Nov 10 2020 12:16:04 PM

Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 10: The government is planning to implement an integrated scheme to extend protection to over 50,000 priests belonging to temples under the muzrai department in the state.

There are 34,000 temples under the department now. The government is thinking of providing pension, health insurance and life insurance to the priests. A clear decision can be expected in about three weeks. Beneficiaries of the scheme will be the priests, other employees serving the temples, and their family members.


Representational image

A high level discussion is currently going on about providing health insurance. A decision has not yet been taken whether they can be covered by Arogya Karnataka-Ayushman Bharat scheme, or only for the ailments listed out in the scheme. There are also suggestions to add some more diseases to the list. Decisions about these things have not been taken.

The aim is to provide cashless treatment facility to priests and staff of temples up to five lac rupees. Once a decision is taken, they will be able to get treatment in in all the hospitals registered under Arogya Karnataka-Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Life insurance of five to seven lac rupees is also planned. This amount is payable in case of death, permanent disability etc. The government has held a round of discussions with LIC of India. It proposes to provide insurance of five to seven lac rupees. The government has to decide whether the premium will be remitted by the government or partial premium has to be collected from the staff. Calculation of financial burden is going on.

Insurance premium depends on the past date on the demise of priests annually, average number of tragedies, average number of deaths etc.

At present, salaries of priests and other employees are met by temples grouped into different categories. In case of priests, the entire families used to face crises. The government wants to extend pay and insurance facilities to all categories of temples. The figures like ages of priests and employees etc are being put together to calculate premium and take a decision.

Muzrai minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, said that protecting priests and other staff is the responsibility of the government.

 

 

 
  

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Comment on this article

  • KS Mayya, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Tue, Nov 10 2020

    If this does go through, these very priests will be summoned for election duty, failing which the Govt can threaten to withdraw the entitlements.

    And even better, why this plan will not see the light of the day and it will be only mulling; eligibility criteria for priests will have to be clearly defined. That would in turn need certification from a competent authority. Who will do that?

    DisAgree [14] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Sudarshan Shetty, Udupi/Mumbai

    Tue, Nov 10 2020

    Very good decision. It don’t need additional funding. Muzarai department has enough fund to invest and facilitate these plan.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shuba, Mangaluru

    Tue, Nov 10 2020

    I hope and pray that we all citizens of this country who are also tax payers worship one God Almighty with several names and hence all.priests of temples viz. Churches. Mosques are eligible for this svheme

    DisAgree [7] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • KS Mayya, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Tue, Nov 10 2020

    Dear Shuba, Mangalore:
    You have got a point. But Church and Mosque do not come under the Muzrai department and they get to manage their own funds.
    Muzrai department is only for administering the funds coming out of top temples. And hence.....

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Nov 11 2020

    Shuba mangalore,it is a good decision from Govt.At present catholic priests are not included.Because Rom will look after their salary and Pension.About muslim Priests I dont know much.

    DisAgree [2] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Dylan, Mangalore

    Tue, Nov 10 2020

    It is of the tax payers money which is used to help the priests of temple, then the priests of other religions also should benefit, not including families. Did the Government ever think of students during the lockdown about the online classes.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • P Shetty, Udupi

    Tue, Nov 10 2020

    It is not a bad idea because govt is giving back the part of the money donated by the devotees to the temple priest. It would be better if govt hand over the temple back to the communities and scrap temple endowment act. Let the community spend the money for the betterment of temple priests & other social work.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mr Kamath, Mangalore

    Tue, Nov 10 2020

    If priests of churches and mosques are also protected then it's good otherwise sorry it's a terrible idea

    DisAgree [11] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jude, MANGALURU

    Tue, Nov 10 2020

    I feel the government must have no control over temples. The Muzrai department must be abolished and independent trusts must take over the control of temples. I am not talking about schemes to help the livelihood of temple priests.

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • KS Mayya, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Tue, Nov 10 2020

    That is the least Government can do when it indulges in daylight robbery of these temples in the form of Muzrai department's oversight. Most of these priests are not considering worthy enough for marriage by prospective brides. This basic facility will enable them to have a decent life whilst involved in this profession.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse


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