Village temple priests to hold stir across TN

Priests serving in temples in villages in Tamil Nadu will stage a state-wide demonstration on August 26 in front of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department offices to seek redressal of their demands.
"Though the government had announced pensions and welfare board for poojaris, the benefits have not reached them," founder-managing trustee of Grama Koil Poojarigal Peravai, Tamil Nadu, S Vedantam said here today.
"A pension of Rs.1000 announced by the government does not reach the poojaris regularly, their demand for benefits under Welfare Board also has not been met for several years," he said here in a press release.

Stating that village temple poojaris were socially and economically poor, he said "they are struggling for their livelihood." Such a situation has driven the "frustrated poojaris to resort to agitation."
A protest demonstration, hence, would be held on August 26 in all districts in the State to seek redressal, he said.
Requesting the government a remuneration of Rs.5000 per month for poojaris, he appealed to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to consider the plea.