Min wants temples to share 50% earnings with hospitals
If the proposal by Girish Mahajan is implemented, it will curtail our other charitable activities, say temples.
Cash-rich temples in Maharashtra should contribute half of their earnings to government hospitals to provide better care to the poor, Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan has proposed.
In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mahajan, who recently took charge of the ministry, said lakhs of people suffering from various ailments should benefit from the money coming to the temples in the form of donations.
While the idea has been welcomed by the general public, the temple trusts don’t seem too enthused by it. If accepted, temple authorities said, the move will curtail their other charitable activities.
As a government trust, half of the income earned by the Siddhivinayak temple is spent on healthcare, education and other social causes, said Narendra Rane, chairman of the temple’s trusts.
The Prabhadevi temple receives nearly Rs 75 crore – in the form of money, gold, silver and interest from investments – every year.
“It is very thoughtful of the medical education minister to suggest that all trusts should give 50 per cent of their income to government hospitals. But I feel the money should be utilised for other causes too,” said Rane.
Rane said, “So far this year, we have contributed Rs 40 crore to the state government’s scheme for a drought-free Maharashtra. Every year, we keep a provision to spend up to Rs 12 crore for people suffering from various health issues.”
Bajirao Shinde, executive officer of Saibaba Sansthan Trust, said they are not aware of minister Mahajan’s proposal. The temple in Shirdi is one of the richest shrines in the country with an annual income of nearly Rs 200 crore.
Shinde said, “Currently, we run two hospitals in Shirdi where the poor and needy get free treatment. Besides, we contribute to several other causes and donate money as and when ordered by the government.”
If at all the government takes a decision in favour of the proposal, Shinde said, “It will be followed.”
Faced with the challenge of severe droughts in several parts of Maharashtra, Fadnavis had last year ordered the Siddhivinayak and Sai Baba temple trusts to chip in funds for his ambitious Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyaan – a 5-year project to provide permanent source of water to villages.
“If they decided to give away 50 per cent to only government hospitals, how will we contribute to other social causes,” asked Rane.
Cash-rich temples in Maharashtra should contribute half of their earnings to government hospitals to provide better care to the poor, Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan has proposed.
In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mahajan, who recently took charge of the ministry, said lakhs of people suffering from various ailments should benefit from the money coming to the temples in the form of donations.
Mahajan has suggested that the trusts of Siddhivinayak in Prabhadevi, Tuljapur in Osmanabad, Mahalaxmi in Kolhapur and Shirdi’s Sai Baba temple should pay a monthly sum to government hospitals across the state.
While the idea has been welcomed by the general public, the temple trusts don’t seem too enthused by it. If accepted, temple authorities said, the move will curtail their other charitable activities.
As a government trust, half of the income earned by the Siddhivinayak temple is spent on healthcare, education and other social causes, said Narendra Rane, chairman of the temple’s trusts.
The Prabhadevi temple receives nearly Rs 75 crore – in the form of money, gold, silver and interest from investments – every year.
“It is very thoughtful of the medical education minister to suggest that all trusts should give 50 per cent of their income to government hospitals. But I feel the money should be utilised for other causes too,” said Rane.
Rane said, “So far this year, we have contributed Rs 40 crore to the state government’s scheme for a drought-free Maharashtra. Every year, we keep a provision to spend up to Rs 12 crore for people suffering from various health issues.”
Bajirao Shinde, executive officer of Saibaba Sansthan Trust, said they are not aware of minister Mahajan’s proposal. The temple in Shirdi is one of the richest shrines in the country with an annual income of nearly Rs 200 crore.
Shinde said, “Currently, we run two hospitals in Shirdi where the poor and needy get free treatment. Besides, we contribute to several other causes and donate money as and when ordered by the government.”
If at all the government takes a decision in favour of the proposal, Shinde said, “It will be followed.”
Faced with the challenge of severe droughts in several parts of Maharashtra, Fadnavis had last year ordered the Siddhivinayak and Sai Baba temple trusts to chip in funds for his ambitious Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyaan – a 5-year project to provide permanent source of water to villages.
“If they decided to give away 50 per cent to only government hospitals, how will we contribute to other social causes,” asked Rane.
