Stalin launches scheme to convert gold donated to temple into bars

The scheme, which was inaugurated through video conferencing, will initially be implemented in Karumari Amman Temple in Thiruverkadu, Mariamman Temples in Samayapuram and Irukkankudi. The jewels offered to deities in the last 10 years were kept in the respective temples without melting and after DMK came to power, HR&CE Minister PK Sekar Babu, in the state Assembly, announced that gold jewels except those used in the temples would be sent for melting.

As announced, the state appointed three Judges, Raju, Mala and Ravichandra Babu, for overseeing the process of segregating the jewels in three zones such as Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchy, respectively. The process of segregating jewels will be video recorded and the jewels will be sent to the Central refinery in Mumbai to be converted into gold bars.

The converted gold bars will be deposited in the banks as gold bonds and the interest availed from the banks will be used for temple works. If need arises for making jewels for the deities, the deposited gold jewels will be taken from the banks and will be used for making jewels.

The scheme of converting gold jewels offered in temples into gold bars has been in place since 1977 and so far 497.795 kilograms of gold bars have been deposited in nationalised banks.

The Chief Minister also launched three different portals for officials of the Revenue Department. For disaster management, CM launched the website www.cra.tn.gov.in, for officials at the rank of deputy collectors www.cra.tn.gov.in/tnscs and for transfer of VAOs to other districts www.cra.gov.in/vaotransfer were launched.

In the website, www.cra.tn.gov.in, details pertaining to social welfare schemes, the Government Orders (GOs), details of beneficiaries were uploaded and the public can access all the details related to Revenue Department in the website.