Delhi Elections: Kejriwal Announces Rs 18K For Priests After Welfare Schemes For Dalit, Women & Elderly

The name of the scheme is Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. Under this, there is a provision to give an honorarium to the priests of temples and the 'granthis' of the Gurudwara.

AAP Guarantees To Give Rs 18000 To Priests In Big Poll Promise

Source : PTI

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced that the party will give Rs 18000 per month to priests if it comes to power in the national capital. Delhi is likely to go to polls in February. 

"Today I am making an important announcement regarding a scheme. The name of the scheme is Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. Under this, there is a provision to give an honorarium to the priests of temples and the 'granthis' of the Gurudwara. They will be given an honorarium of about Rs 18,000 per month," Kejriwal said.

He said 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," Kejriwal added.

#WATCH | Delhi: AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal says "Today I am making an important announcement regarding a scheme. The name of the scheme is Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. Under this, there is a provision to give an honorarium to the priests of temples and the 'granthis'… pic.twitter.com/Epty4TnLY7

— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2024

Kejriwal accused the BJP of trying to scuttle several of his party's welfare schemes. "Just like the BJP tried to stop the Mahila Samman Yojana by sending police but couldn't, similarly they shouldn't try to stop the 'Pujari-Granthi Samman' scheme. BJP will incur a great sin by doing this.

"This scheme is a tribute to their spiritual contribution to society and their efforts to preserve our cultural heritage," he said in a social media post.

He said the number of registrations to avail of the proposed honorarium will be made public once the process is completed. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, who also attended the press conference, lauded the initiative.

"When Aam Aadmi Party forms the government in Delhi again, temple priests and Gurudwara granthis who have been preserving and carrying forward our culture and civilisation for generations will be given an honorarium of Rs 18,000 per month. Arvind Kejriwal Ji's decision is not only a tribute to the service of the priests and granthis but also a resolve to preserve our heritage," she wrote in a post on X.