Puri: In its first meeting, the reconstituted Jagannath Temple Managing Committee on Thursday approved the proposal for allotment of homestead land and house building assistance to the poor homeless temple Sevayats.
The Committee has also decided to start functioning of the Adarsh Gurukul for the children of the sevayats from the next academic session. This was informed by the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Dr Krishan Kumar on Thursday.
Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Dr Kumar said land measuring 600 sq feet will be provided to each sevayat family in the first phase for which eight acres of land for 400 families has been identified on the outskirts of Puri town.
“Servitors whose financial condition is not so good will get the benefit and those who are engaged in the daily rituals of the Puri Srimandir will be given priority. Applications will be sought from the servitors for the same,” he said.
“The sevayat families will also be provided Rs 2 lakh each for the construction of the house. They can further extend their house on the allotted land by spending from their own pockets,” Dr Kumar said.
The Chief Administrator further said that Adarsh Gurukul will be set up in the Holy town for the education of children of the servitors. The institute will start functioning from the next academic session. A Srimandir Adarsha Gurukul Society will be formed with the Gajapati Maharaja at its Chairman and the eminent personalities as the members to run the school, he informed.
“The Gurukul will be built on 17 acres at Matitota while Gurukul Fund will be formed to receive donations from the individuals and organisations. The State Government will bear the entire cost towards the construction of the Gurukul,” Dr Kumar further said.
“We had earlier received some money from the Supreme Court to set up the Gurukul. The money will be used for the purpose,” said the SJTA Chief Administrator.
For the repair and conservation works of the temple, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will be asked to formulate a five-year plan.
Stating that the SJTA and the ASI will take a joint decision on the conservation of the 12th-century Shrine, he said that the State Government will provide financial assistance if required.
Dr.Kumar further said that devotees who were earlier depositing a certain amount for wheels and other parts of the chariots of the Holy Trinity after Rath Jatra, can now get them for free.
“A sub-committee will be formed to decide which individual or organisation will get the wheels and other parts of the chariots. The selection will be made through lottery system in case there are more interested applicants,” informed Dr.Kumar