Media Centre, Chennai
CHENNAI, INDIA, January 13, 2007: Hindu organizations, led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, have succeeded in getting the demands of hundreds of thousands of Grama Koil Poojaris (village temple priests) at last. Tamilnadu state Chief Minister Shri. M. Karunanidhi has today (January 13, 2007) cleared the proposal to constitute a welfare board for village priests in the state. The Board is a social security measure for priests of village temples not coming under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department that administers bigger temples. A few weeks before the state government’s announcement, VHP leaders including its international vice president Shri. S. Vedantam and state youth wing organizer Shri. R.R. Gopaljee met the Chief Minister specially to press the VHP demand in favor of Grama Koil Poojaries.