Chilkur priest welcomes Telangana government's welfare measures for archakas
HYDERABAD: Temples Protection Movement convenor and the hereditary archaka of Chilkur Balaji temple, CS Rangarajan, welcomed the Telangana government's recent initiatives for the welfare of archakas and temple employees in rural areas.
He said archakas and temple staff across the state have responded positively to the setting up of the Archaka Welfare Fund Trust, a move that had been delayed since the state's bifurcation in 2014.
Even the Archaka and Temple Employees Welfare Trust established in undivided Andhra Pradesh in 1997, following a Supreme Court judgment, was never fully implemented, he noted, adding that several demands had remained unfulfilled for over 17 years.
Rangarajan appreciated Endowments Minister Konda Surekha for fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of temple priests and employees by launching a dedicated welfare trust on June 9. The trust will benefit around 13,700 priests and staff up to the assistant commissioner level under the Endowments department.
The fund will offer retirement and posthumous gratuity to archakas, including those under the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam scheme. It will also cover medical reimbursements, marriage support, Upanayana Sanskaram, housing needs, education and aid for employees with disabilities unable to perform their duties.
For 90-year-old Dr MV Soundara Rajan, who has fought for the revival of the temple system in courts and the legislature, this initiative marks a long-awaited step in the right direction, Rangarajan said in a statement on Wednesday.
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Letters to the Editor — June 13, 2025
Air accident The accident to an Air India flight, from Ahmedabad to the United Kingdom, is shocking. We pray for the souls who were on board the plane and wish their families strength and courage. Though the investigation into the crash may take some time, airlines in India should ensure that there are no compromises when it comes to the safety of the air passenger. A.J. Rangarajan, Chennai Limited progress The progress being made as far as an India-U.S. trade deal is concerned (Page 1 'India, U.S. inch closer to limited trade agreement', June 12) is encouraging, especially amid global economic uncertainty. While an initial 'mini-deal' is welcome, India and the United States must resist piecemeal compromises. Instead, they must pursue a holistic, fair, and mutually beneficial pact. Tariff reductions and market access should be reciprocal, not one-sided. India must safeguard its domestic interests while opening its doors for innovation and investment. A deadline-driven approach, with transparency, will strengthen trust and global credibility. Dr. Vijay Kumar H.K., Raichur, Karnataka NCERT textbooks While the National Council of Educational Research and Training is designed to educate children through textbooks that could help them grow as knowledgeable and educated youth, missing portions on the farm sector and farmers is worrying ('New NCERT text books don't carry 'poverty and colonized' narratives', June 11). Children should know, and be taught early on, that India is basically an agricultural country and that the farm sector is very crucial. Ground reality should be a priority in the syllabus. A recent article that said 2026 will be observed as the year of women in agriculture. Should not there be thinking about the agriculture sector? Balasubramaniam Pavani, Secunderabad Maximum Mumbai The tragic and unfortunate incident of passengers dying while travelling on a Mumbai local train shows that the Railways have miles to go in ensuring the safety of commuters. The overcrowding on these trains was a common sight especially during peak hours when I was a commuter between Thane and Mumbai CST in 1992. When we realise that not much has changed over three decades, it points to serious lapses in the planning, the development and the implementation of basic infrastructure, which is the lifeline of Mumbaikars. I have seen trains operating in Dubai and Japan, and I have travelled on the Dubai Metro for three years, from 2009. There are a few measures that the Railways and the Government can adopt to minimise such accidents. To flatten the peak in passenger volume, office hours can be staggered. The Railways can increase the frequency of local trains. Providing automatic sliding doors is also needed. More coaches and vestibules to connect them would be ideal. Jiji Panicker K. Chengannur, Kerala With over 80 lakh daily commuters, Mumbai's suburban train system is arguably one of the busiest. Yet, overcrowding, outdated infrastructure, and a lack of real-time monitoring are hurdles. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need to modernise Mumbai's railway system — not technologically alone, but also structurally and administratively. R. Sivakumar, Chennai
New Indian Express
a day ago
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Chilkur priest welcomes Telangana government's welfare measures for archakas
HYDERABAD: Temples Protection Movement convenor and the hereditary archaka of Chilkur Balaji temple, CS Rangarajan, welcomed the Telangana government's recent initiatives for the welfare of archakas and temple employees in rural areas. He said archakas and temple staff across the state have responded positively to the setting up of the Archaka Welfare Fund Trust, a move that had been delayed since the state's bifurcation in 2014. Even the Archaka and Temple Employees Welfare Trust established in undivided Andhra Pradesh in 1997, following a Supreme Court judgment, was never fully implemented, he noted, adding that several demands had remained unfulfilled for over 17 years. Rangarajan appreciated Endowments Minister Konda Surekha for fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of temple priests and employees by launching a dedicated welfare trust on June 9. The trust will benefit around 13,700 priests and staff up to the assistant commissioner level under the Endowments department. The fund will offer retirement and posthumous gratuity to archakas, including those under the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam scheme. It will also cover medical reimbursements, marriage support, Upanayana Sanskaram, housing needs, education and aid for employees with disabilities unable to perform their duties. For 90-year-old Dr MV Soundara Rajan, who has fought for the revival of the temple system in courts and the legislature, this initiative marks a long-awaited step in the right direction, Rangarajan said in a statement on Wednesday.
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Archakas across state elated over govt steps
Hyderabad: Temples Protection Movement convenor and Hereditary Archaka of Chilkur Balaji Temple CS Rangarajan appreciated the targeted initiatives of the Telangana Government with regards to welfare of Archakas and Temple Employees of rural temples which have been long pending for over 17 years. Rangarajan said that Archakas and Temple employees across Telangana were welcoming the initiatives of the government led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy towards Archaka welfare fund trust. Setting up of the full fledged Trust was long pending after the State Bifurcation in 2014. Even the Archaka and Temple Employees Welfare Trust of undivided AP was established in 1997 after the Supreme Court Judgement on Archakas with the same objectives had not been completely implemented. Rangarajan said that the Endowments Minister Konda Surekha has fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of Archakas (temple priests) and employees across Telangana by establishing a dedicated welfare fund. This initiative aims to provide crucial support to those who have diligently served in temples for extended periods. On Monday, Endowment Minister Konda Surekha, joined by Endowment Principal Secretary Shailaja Ramaiyar, Director Venkata Rao, and other officials, announced Archakas and Employees Welfare Fund. Konda Surekha explained that the government had made a significant decision benefiting these vital members of the temple community. She confirmed that approximately 13,700 priests and other staff working in temples up to the Assistant Commissioner level under the Endowments Department would receive assistance through this new welfare trust. The fund would provide posthumous or retirement gratuity to Archakas and other employees. Importantly, gratuity will now be paid posthumously to priests under the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam scheme. Furthermore, ex gratia payments upon death and funeral expenses would also be covered by this fund. Beyond these provisions, the fund will offer various forms of financial assistance, including medical reimbursement, support for marriage ceremonies, Upanayana Sanskaram, house construction, purchase and repair, education, and aid for disabled employees unable to perform their duties.
