BHUBANESWAR: The Supreme Court's directive to state government to take immediate steps to stop servitors from exploiting devotees at the Jagannath Temple in Puri has cheered tourists.
"I was assaulted by some priests on May 20 for refusing to pay 'dakshina'. The state government should take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents," said Chetan Amolkar, an IT professional from Thane.
Local devotees said the temple administration should take adequate steps to improve the financial condition of servitors so that they do not trouble visitors for money. "We had been witnessing the administration's inefficiency in addressing the exploitative practices in the temple. The B P Das judicial commission, set up in 2016 to suggest reforms in the temple, too had come across harassment of pilgrims. But the government did precious little to address the issue" said Dasarathi Mohanty of Puri.
Opposition Congress and BJP welcomed the Supreme Court's directive relating to the temple. "The state government failed to bring order in the temple. I condemn the shameful mismanagement of temple affairs and disregard shown to sentiments of millions of devotees," said Congress state president Niranjan Patnaik.
BJP spokesperson Pitambar Acharya said the state government should immediately carry out the orders of the Supreme Court for the convenience of pilgrims.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, which has been asked to stop priests from collecting 'dakshina' from devotees, said a number of welfare measures have been taken for priests. "In 2006, we had introduced Anubhav Yatra, an exposure trip for servitors to different temples across the country, so that they learn basic etiquettes. We still send priests to different shrines to gain experience," a temple official said.
The law department that manages the temple's administrative affair said a committee would soon be formed to study the managements of other important temples in the country. "We will abide by the orders of the Supreme Court. The committee will soon be constituted," a law officer said.
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