Bangalore/Mangalore, June 20: After taking into consideration all the aspects of the current inflation,Prakash B Hukkeri,state Muzrai minister said the department has proposed to the chief minister to hike Tasdik amount (honorarium) to priest to Rs 24,000/-from Rs 12,000/ per annum.
Although decision to this effect was taken during the last days of BJP regime, it could not be implemented as election code of conduct was in place. Now the move was necessitated in view of spiraling price raise of rice, oil, flowes, fruits and other essential things to perform pooja.
If this proposal is being implemented, priests in as many as 26,988 temples will be benefited. In order to compensate the rapid increase in the prices of rice,oil,flowers,fruits at least by Rs 50,the government also increased honorarium from Rs 50 to Rs 100/=everyday for the priests. In case the proposed increase is being implemented, an additional of Rs 33.32 crore would cost to the exchequer of the government, he said.
Hukkeri after participating in the pre-budget meeting, said department has proposed to increase grants from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for muzrai temples improvement under Aradana scheme. Muzrai temples are managed by Aradhana committee headed by local MLA. “There is a demand from MLAs to increase grants for long time. The demand has been conveyed to chief minister Siddaramaiah,” Hukkeri said.
