After ‘Mahila Samman’, Kejriwal announces monthly grant for temple priests, granthis of gurudwara

Claiming to be first such programme in the country, Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the government will provide a monthly honorarium to temple priests and gurudwara granthis. The party had earlier announced a scheme to provide monthly assistance for women in view of Delhi Assembly polls.

Announcing the scheme in Delhi, Kejriwal said, “I am making an important announcement regarding a scheme. The name of the scheme is ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana’. Under this, honorarium will be given to the priests of temples and the 'granthis' of the Gurudwara. They will be given an honorarium of about Rs 18,000 per month. This is happening for the first time in the country. The priest is a class that has carried forward the rituals from generation to generation. They never paid attention to their family and we never paid attention to them,” ANI reported. Kejriwal said the registration for the scheme will begin on Tuesday from the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place.

AAP is hoping for a consecutive win in upcoming Delhi Assembly election. The party’s announcement comes amidst probe against its earlier announced ‘Mahila Samman’ scheme. Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has directed Delhi chief secretary to conduct a probe into alleged reports of non-government persons collecting details of individuals in the name of “non-existent” schemes.

AAP has promised to provide a monthly assistance of Rs 2,100 for women after winning the Delhi Assembly polls. Kejriwal also launched the registration process for the scheme. However, the Congress has complained with the Delhi lieutenant governor against the registration process and charged AAP is committing fraud with women in the national capital. Congress also charged the AAP was collecting sensitive personal information in the name of a non-existent scheme.