Consumer association demands White Paper on HR and CE Department

The Thanjavur District Rural Consumers Protection Association has demanded a White Paper on the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department.

In a memorandum submitted at the quarterly grievance/suggestions meeting convened by Aswini, Assistant Commissioner, HR and CE Department, at Kumbakonam on July 8, the association listed the grievances of persons with disabilities visiting important temples in the Kumbakonam region.

While doing so, the association urged the department not to insist on the remittance of the lease amount in cash, but to revert to the old practice of receiving the lease amount in kind, as per the lease agreement, from the lessees.

It urged the department to ensure the quality of food served under the “nithya anandhanam” scheme launched by the former Chief Minister.Jayalalithaa at the temples and to distribute other cooked ‘prasadams’ by placing them on a piece of plantain leaf or ‘thonnai’ (a small container made using dry leaves such as ‘arasu’ or ‘purasu’ instead of delivering the ‘prasadam’ on the bare hands of the devotees.

While seeking to discourage the devotees from donating the pasteurised milk (pre-heated and chemically treated milk) and curd made from such milk, for the ‘abhishekam’ (anointment) of deities, the association exhorted the department to release a White Paper on the activities/administration of temples for a period starting from 2001 to till date.