Dr V S Acharya

Beltangady, Jan 26: “The coming budget proposals will have a declaration about providing Rs 28 crore annually to temples by way of fixed annual allowances,” revealed muzrai and home minister, Dr V S Acharya. He was speaking after dedicating the newly built chariot of Nala Goddess Durgaparameshwari Temple in the taluk to the Goddess, at a religious meeting organized on the occasion. He reminded the audience that the government had increased the allowances to the priests of muzrai temples from Rs 75 to Rs 6,000 per year, adding that there is a proposal to increase this amount further to Rs 12,000. He also said that he will sanction a grant of five lac rupees for the development works of Nala temple. He said that after he became the muzrai minister, this was the third chariot from the district to be dedicated to the presiding deities. He added that the people should become spiritually rich, along with building mental, physical and social health. He added that having money alone does not ensure development.

Sri Vidyaprasannateertha Swamiji of Subrahmanya Mutt, in his benedictory speech, said that the people need to pay obeisance to the deity of the village during the annual festival, as He is in a benevolent mood at that time.

Executive director of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, Dr L H Manjunath, presided. Kateel temple preist, Lakshminarayan Asraanna, Harikrishna Punaroor, Ashok Kumar Rai Mangalore and a few others participated as guests.