The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Temples in Dalit habitations to be renovated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 22, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Temples in Dalit habitations to be renovated

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH 21. The Government will take up renovation or reconstruction of 6,000 temples in Dalit habitations at a cost of Rs. 15 crores, the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, P.C. Ramasamy said today.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants to the department, he told the Assembly that the funds would be spent at Rs. 25, 000 a temple. The expenditure would be met with funds from affluent temples.

Renovation or reconstruction of 4,000 temples in the habitations of backward and most backward classes would be done at a cost of Rs. 10 crores, he said.

Golden chariots would be built for the Bannari Mariamman temple at Bannari, the Madurakaliamman temple at Siruvachur in Perambalur district, the Mundagakanniamman temple at Mylapore, Chennai; the Arunachaleswarar temple at Tiruvannamalai, the Thandumariamman temple in Coimbatore and the Kottai Mariamman temple at Dindigul.

Kumbabishekam would be performed in 1,008 temples this year. Committees had been formed to make thiruvabaranams (gold ornaments) for the major temples at Srirangam, Samayapuram and Chennai. The Kapaleeswarar temple tank at Mylapore would be lined with concrete at a cost of Rs. 80 lakhs.

A ropeway service would be provided between the Palani hill temple and the Idumban hill temple, between Palani and Kodaikanal, and between the foothills and hilltop at Sholingur at a cost of Rs. 38 crores.

`Reduce rent'

The Communist Party of India member, V. Sivapunniam, urged the Government to scale down the "steeply hiked" lease rent — ranging from 100 to 200 per cent — on temple land and property.

Though the hike was imposed during the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government, it was not implemented. The present Government started executing it and farmers and tenants faced problems because of cases pending before revenue courts. His demand was supported by his party colleagues and some other Opposition MLAs.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) member, K. Balabarathi, wanted to know the Government's stand on appointing women archakhas. As women were not admitted to the Veda Agama College on the ground that `Manusastra' did not allow it, how could women be trained as archakhas, she asked.

Earlier, the Social Welfare Minister, Vijayalakshmi Palanisamy, said Rs. 50 crores would be earmarked for the Girl Child Protection Scheme.

Allocation of Rs. 1 crore for purchase of stainless steel plates and tumblers for the noon-meal scheme, earmarking funds for treatment of children with major ailments at Rs. 100 a child and provision of Rs. 75 lakhs for purchase of aid materials for 7,750 physically challenged persons are among the new projects she announced for 2005-2006.

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