Want transfer? Travancore Devaswom Board asks its priests to meet target
The board has decided not to entertain transfer requests of priests, administrative officer and all other staff of “low-earning†temples.
Kochi: After hiking rates of various ‘offerings’ at major temples , the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has now began to put pressure on its temple staff including priests to increase revenue. The board has decided not to entertain transfer requests of priests, administrative officer and all other staff of “low-earning” temples. “Usually transfer requests are considered on the basis of vacancy at the place sought. However, such request of staff directly concerned with the temple earning will not be considered if the earning decreases or fails to register the minimum targeted growth,” a senior Devaswom official said.
Only 83 out of the total 1250 temples managed by the TDB have more annual revenue than the expenses incurred and the rest are “loss-making” as per figures arrived after taking the revenue and expense of the temples for the last three financial years. “We’ve started implementing various measures to increase the revenue and make the temples self-sufficient. As part of it we’re taking figures of the pilgrims arriving at the temples and offerings undertaken. The targets will be fixed based on this,” said Prayar Gopalakrishnan, TDB President. As part of the measures being implemented from April 1, no permanent staff is being appointed to posts such as ‘Kazhakom’, ‘Thali’, ‘sweeper’ and ‘sanitary’. Such jobs will be outsourced with preference to local residents near the temple. Also the open spaces and unused buildings at temples will be optimally utilised to find additional revenue sources.