30,000 temples are getting less than Rs 5,000 as annual income. Of these many are in dilapidated state and need funds for renovation, according to the HR & CE dept’s policy note (Tamil Nadu).

A M Rajagopalan says that there are 381 temples in the State that are 1,000 years old, 72 of which are very important for their architectural splendor.

“Most of the funds for temple kumbhabhishekham are raised by devotees and not the govt.So, why shouldn’t they be allowed to run the temples themselves?”

…The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department, through which the State government manages the temples, admits that over 30,000 temples “are getting less than Rs 5,000 as annual income. Among these temples, many of them are very dilapidated, requiring huge money for renovation.” In all, the HR & CE department controls 38,465 temples.

…HR and CE Minister KR Periyakaruppan could not be contacted for his comments.

FORGOTTEN PANEL REPORT FOR BETTER TEMPLE ADMINISTRATION

THE DMK regime in 1989 constituted a five-member committee headed by Kundrakudi Adigalar for recommending measures for better administration of the temples in Tamil Nadu.
…
The panel submitted its report in 1990 but the government never made its recommendations public. The AIADMK regime that followed also did not do anything on the report.

HERE ARE THE EXCERPTS FROM THE REPORT: -

The government should avoid acquiring temple lands even for public purposes. Only when the government is unable to get sufficient lands from other sources, temple lands that are not of any use to the temples can be acquired by paying the prevailing market value.

The committee is of the view that the funds of the temples should not be spent or diverted to non-religious works either directly or indirectly

…As such, the temples should be exempted from income tax Long-term leases (more than 10 years) should be cancelled so that the income of the temples goes up considerably.

The temple lands in urban areas should not be sold out under any circumstance.
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A special scheme for renovating all historically important temples, visited by saints should be drawn up and all these temples should be renovated within a five-year time frame

The “right” and the “left” – Shaping the debate

Let us continue the discussion on socialism/ capitalism etc on the link above

I dont like to get dogmatic with any “isms”. Hence i maintain the problems India face are multi faceted and it requires a policy that can be adaptable to all sections of the society. That means at various points of time we would have to prioritise certain aspects more than the other. This has to be taken based on the prevailing conditions.

1. I would not have issues in govt help towards religious institutions like temples, mosques and churches – only if there are no means of finding help for it amongst the community.
For example: The temple reconstruction i was involved was a govt, private and public participation. It is again based on the need, cluture and heritage and other factors govt help can be sorted. Not for temple constructiona round the corner or over night.
As for Haj subsidy, at this stage i can only say – i would need to look at the criterion for subsidy. If govt is helping poor muslims in tehir trips to religious places to atain nirvana it should be ok again based on the criterion.

But my personal view is communication with god is ones own self, and we would not need to go to any temple/mosquer/church to pray, we can do so where ever we are. What is more important to me is God and there are various ways to reach the almighty.
Saying this, can i put my views on others? it would be wrong. Hence unless we start educating this tenent of communication with God i am afraid it is a long haul and till then we would need to caterf to people wishes.
If you ask me, why only govt should do this, there is scope for helping our brothers and sisters through private – public participation; this is happenign alebit in minority of cases.

1] Why should the government “help” a place of religious worship? Particularly in a “secular” country?

2] Do you justify the Haj subsidy?

I dont want to get too technical here:
1. I can certainly check and may be help ypu update the chart, next time i am in India.

2. What type of aid are we taking here into consideration? Barring last year, in Karnataka we have not heard complaints on any step motherley traeatment to any religious institutions.
Even the recent issue was to do with giving the administrative right of a lucruative temple to one religious mutt which seems to be pro Yeddyurappa and pro BJP.

3. My opinion is Govt can help, temples/churches/maosques – but i am against government running them.

4. I guess i answered yoru question on my view

5. I dont have any precice figues, but the issue is should the govt be running religious institutions. I was inolved in a process to help rise govt grants to re-construct a age old temple in my village: which has a massive following. During this process i was explained of the govts role and how funds are allocated and used by “Mujrai Dept”