‘Engaging women as temple priests is part of larger social engineering’

IT applications to boost transparency in temple administration, says Sekar Babu

The proposal to appoint women and members of other communities as priests in temples in Tamil Nadu is not just a religious activity, but is part of a larger social engineering to ensure equal opportunity to all, a principle the DMK government is committed to, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister hassaid in an interview. Edited excerpts: Aspiring candidates will be trained and appointed as priests in temples in accordance with the rules. The government will definitely assist women who are interested in taking up the job of a temple priest. I am surprised at the questions being raised on the move to appoint women as priests. When women could be engaged in many other works in temples, why can’t they be engaged as priests? When we are open to appointing people from any community as priests in temples, why prohibit women? We have also received representations from women seeking an opportunity to serve as priests. Engaging women as priests is not merely a religious activity, but is part of a larger social transformation initiative to ensure equal participation — a principle the DMK government is committed to. As regards taking up the job of a temple priest as a career, I am sure it is not just the money that matters to people. Doing the divine duty of serving God gives huge satisfaction. Having said that, I would also add that the remuneration of priests in smaller temples that don’t generate much income is under consideration for revision.