Various Archaka associations in the state, under the auspices of the Brahmin Chaitanya Vedika expressed their joy over the Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu-led government’s decision to increase the salary of priests working in the endowment department by Rs. 15,000.
On this occasion, at a meeting organized at the Guntur Brahmin Chaitanya Vedika state office, Brahmin Chaitanya Vedika state president Siripurapu Sridhar Sharma and Priest JAC leader Jandhyala Ramalingeswara Sastry said that there is a disparity in the state where many priest families working for a salary of just Rs. 5000.
In order for a family to survive, a person in the society needs at least Rs. 30,000 for children’s education, house rent, hospital expenses, and essential commodities. He expressed his happiness that the government has created a situation where many priest families can express some light and happiness due to the government’s initiative to increase the salary of Rs. 15,000 to the priests who are constantly serving God.
They expressed their anger that the previous government had attacked priests in temples, burnt chariots and even destroyed idols of deities, and that there was no record of the Jagan government responding to anti-priest Brahmin activities in the state.
The priest and Brahmin associations expressed their happiness over the fact that in the last election manifesto, the TDP, BJP and Jana Sena parties had put special emphasis on the problems of priests and Brahmins and that the government had taken steps to implement the various issues mentioned in the manifesto.
They particularly mentioned the GO that was given avoiding the interference of the endowment officials and governing bodies in the matters of Agama practices, Kainkaryas, traditions and other matters in the temples. The third GO announced that Rs. 10,000 would be given to the temples facing difficulties under the Dhupa Deepa Naivedya scheme, and Rs. 3,000 as a living allowance to retired Vedic scholars, the fourth GO announced that Rs. 15,000 would be given to the priests of the temples with an income of more than Rs. 50,000.