Counting of hundis: TG temples stand out for strict protocols

Hyderabad: At a time when there is widespread outrage over the far-reaching implications of the theft of donations, ornaments and artefacts from the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Telangana Endowments Department, going by the avowed claims of its officials, leads by example by following strict protocols during the counting of hundis in all temples across the state. Besides, proper audit is also done for ornaments, thereby preserving intact the donations received from devotees and philanthropists.

According to officials in the Endowments Department, there are set rules in the Telugu-speaking states with regard to the temple donations and their maintenance; so, there is hardly any scope for fraud.

The officials explained that first a circular is issued stating that the hundi of so-and-so temple will be opened on a specified date. “We call the devotees, Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO or his representative), police and the temple security. The persons coming for the counting will have to compulsorily wear dhoti and should not wear any ornaments. Even the women volunteers are checked thoroughly. Even if they go to the washroom, they will be frisked when going out and while coming in,” said the official.

The misuse of the donations by the staff in the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has sparked severe criticism across the country. According to police, the staff, particularly the outsourced personnel, had allegedly siphoned off lakhs of rupees belonging to the temple deeply hurting the religious sentiments of millions of people.

The officials in Telangana further said that the entire counting process is video-graphed and counting will be done in the presence of even the bank staff. The bank staff provides vouchers for the counted money and would take them to the bank.

Regarding ornaments, an inventory register is kept at the counting place where the employees would show ornaments to the goldsmith and an appraiser of the department for noting down their value.