The decision to give Rs.15,000/- to temple-priests in Assam is welcomed by HJS

The other States can learn from the decision taken by the Assam Chief Minister! – Appeal by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

The Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma has decided to help the Corona-affected Hindu temples’ priests and small temples by giving them Rs.15,000/- as Corona Relief Aid. It is a very commendable decision and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) welcomes this decision. Earlier, the Chief Minister had taken a decision to impose a ban on the sale of meat within a 5 km area of religious places. The other States should also learn from such decisions, which is an appeal made by HJS.

Everything has come to a standstill due to the Corona pandemic. Many people have lost their jobs. The number of devotees visiting temples has considerably gone down, therefore, temples’ income has also become quite meager. Many priests have lost jobs and the priests dependent on temples are facing financial constraints. In such a situation, the help of Rs. 15,000/- to priests would give them relief to some extent. HJS had demanded such help even for temples in Maharashtra in this Corona pandemic period.

Many State Governments are giving financial aid to imams, maulvis, and persons giving azan at madrasas and mosques in the name of a minority population; but similar help doesn’t seem to have been given to Hindu priests and temples belonging to the majority population. Moreover, many big and rich Hindu temples have been taken over by the State Governments and the Governments have looted the wealth of those temples. The decision of giving grants to temple-priests and small temples in such a background, will make the majority population happy. HJS feels that even other State Governments should take similar decisions to help temples and priests working there.