The Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has decided to increase awareness of Jagannath Mahima, the glory of Jagannath dharma, and update the temple’s website to reach devotees worldwide. This was established in the managing committee meeting held on Monday, where the annual budget of Rs 271 crore was also approved for the temple for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
The committee meeting focused on improving the temple’s revenue, with plans to collaborate with online financial platforms such as Paytm and involve banks in donation payment gateways. Additionally, Hundi will be installed in various hotels and other gathering areas to obtain more donations from devotees.
The SJTA Chief Administrator, Ranjan Kumar Das, informed newsmen that the meeting also addressed the shortcomings identified during last year’s Rath Yatra and measures are being taken to prevent such issues in the future.
In terms of budgeting, Das mentioned that the income generated from the temple’s over 200 mines and stone quarries amounted to approximately Rs 30 crore, while Rs 36 crore was collected through donations, and Rs 50 crore from the sale proceeds of the temple endowment. Furthermore, the corpus fund’s interest generated Rs 60 crore.
The SJTA Chief Administrator also allocated Rs 5 crore for health insurance coverage for the temple’s servitors and their families. Another Rs 5 crore will be spent on building a Gurukul school, while Rs 3.5 crore will be dedicated to the Sevak Awas Yojna to provide homes for homeless servitors. The corpus fund account will deposit Rs 50 crore, and costs associated with conducting the Rath Yatra and payment to servitors will also be covered.
The completed portion of the Srimandir Parikrama will be opened for use by devotees starting on June 15, where they could utilize toilets, rest areas, and water fountains in the Parikrama area.
Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb chaired the meeting while District Collector Smarth Verma, Superintendent of Police K. Vishal Singh, and members of the Managing Committee also participated.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is expected to conduct the final review meeting for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.
