Temples in Andhra Pradesh do have ownership of several big parcels of land. These are the lands given by the Kings, Zamindars, and devotees to the Gods. There are devotees who have given away their every asset to the Temples.
These lands are supposed to be auctioned annually, and the revenue generated is used to maintain the temples.
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But then, most of these lands were encroached and are being used for other purposes, being of no use to the Temples.
The main reason for these encroachments is the government and the Endowments Department not putting these lands to any use and keeping them vacant.
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Even if the officials auction these lands, people do not come forward to take the lease due to the stringent conditions of the Government.
Now, the Chandrababu Naidu Government has decided to give the non-agricultural lands of the Temples to non-profit Hindu organizations if they apply.
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Stringent conditions were imposed for giving lands as such. The organizations should be Hindu organizations and should have 20 20-year track record of charity.
Section 2(5) of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act 1987 clearly underlines what these organizations are.
The Government also says reasonable fees/rent must be charged for such allocations.
This is a very good idea. Instead of falling into the hands of the encroachers, these lands will be of use to the Hindu Charity Organizations, which will save the lands and also will be of use to society.
If planned properly, this is a Golden Opportunity for genuine Hindu organizations like Seva Bharathi or Saraswathi Shishu Mandir.
But then, Former Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao, who happens to be in the BJP, objects to this.
“There is a strong need to oppose these government orders. These orders will serve to give away temple lands to those who want them without the auction process. There is a need to stop them legally as well,” he wrote on X.
IYR Krishna Rao worked in various Top Positions in the Government during his service, including the position of the Chief Secretary.
Krishna Rao has no track record of doing anything to save Temple Lands. He himself is aware of the problem.
As a self-proclaimed right-wing leader, Krishna Rao will be aware of the funding problems of Hindu Charity Organizations whereas Christian Charity Organizations get funding from abroad from various Christian Missionaries.
This is a progressive move by the Government to save the Temple Lands and put them to use to help the Hindus.
IYR Krishna Rao still has a problem because he has issues with TDP and Chandrababu Naidu only because of the Caste issues.
The Hindu society itself should consider what use such intellectuals can have for their society.
BJP should weed out leaders like this for its own good.
