Chilkur Balaji priest lauds Telangana’s welfare fund for Archakas

Priest Rangarajan commends the State government for launching a trust to support rural Archakas and temple staff. The initiative includes posthumous and retirement gratuity, funeral expenses, and ex gratia aid, addressing long-pending concerns post-State bifurcation

Hyderabad: The Temples Protection Movement convenor and hereditary Archaka of Chilkur Balaji Temple, Rangarajan, praised the State government’s initiatives concerning the welfare of Archakas and temple employees in rural temples.

He stated that the setting up of a full-fledged trust had been long overdue since the State bifurcation in 2014.

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“This initiative aims to provide crucial support to those who have diligently served in temples for extended periods,” Rangarajan said in a statement on Wednesday.

The fund will provide posthumous or retirement gratuity to Archakas and other employees.

Notably, gratuity will now be paid posthumously to priests under the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam scheme.

In addition, ex gratia payments upon death and funeral expenses will also be covered by the fund, he added.