The recent controversy over donations to the Ram temple in Ayodhya has once again raised the issue across the country as to where donations and trusts worth crores of rupees are managed in the safest and cleanest manner. Every year, devotees donate cash, gold, silver, diamonds, jewellery and many other valuable items to the country’s major temples. But, how is this donation counted? How do they reach the bank? Who audits it? And the most important question is, do all the major temples in the country have the same system?
Moreover, major temples in India have developed different models for managing donations over time. Some have high-tech note-counting machines, some have CCTV cameras, and some have regular audits by chartered accountants, while others have a fully digital donation system.
There are some temples, whose system has been fixed through legal means and whose accounts are mandatory for regular audit. In this, people also want to know whose donation management is considered the safest in Kashi Vishwanath, Tirupati Balaji, Siddhivinayak, Shirdi Sai Baba and Mahakal Temples etc. and what steps have been taken by the management to keep this donation money safe in a proper manner.
Ram temple donation money manipulation controversy – This question has arisen at a time when a case of donation theft of about Rs 200 crore has come to light in the Ayodhya Ram temple. However, an investigation is underway in this case. Along with this, an FIR has also been registered against 13 people. However, it is worth considering that how can such a huge amount be stolen even though there is a very good monitoring system and trust. In this series, many such cases have come to light before, in which news of donation theft came to light in famous temples of the country.
1- Tirupati Balaji Temple –
The Tirupati Balaji Temple, one of the richest temples in India, has a very strict and high-tech system for managing donations. The cash donations given in the Hundi of the devotees are counted in the presence of trained staff and volunteers under ‘Parakami Seva’ on modern note counting machines. The counting is done in front of the devotees.
The entire process is under CCTV surveillance and security. Apart from cash, gold, silver, foreign currencies and other valuables are counted and recorded in separate categories. After this, the entire amount is deposited in the bank and a digital record of each donation is kept safe, in which cleanliness and accountability can be ensured.
Recently, TTD has partnered with ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) to further strengthen its accounting and donation records, which can further streamline record-keeping and cleanliness.
In 2010, a very controversial atmosphere arose regarding the offerings and donations at the Tirupati temple, after which a committee was formed under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court judge DP Wadhwa. The committee, in its report, described Tirupati’s donation management as one of the best.
What is special about the donation system? –
Separate staff appointed for counting
Volunteers for counting coins
CCTV, counting under tight police security
Volunteers are checked 3-4 times
Those doing the counting wear only dhoti
2- Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple –
A large crowd of devotees flocks to the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Uttar Pradesh for darshan. This brings in a lot of donation money to the temple, which has special arrangements to safeguard and maintain cleanliness. According to the report, a stable and clean system has been adopted for managing donations at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham. There are a total of 56 hundis (donation pots) in the temple premises, in which devotees offer cash, gold and silver. Apart from this, a separate official record is kept of the donations received through digital means and offices. Twice a week, i.e. every Tuesday and Friday, the donations are counted in the presence of an officer and about 25 women servants under CCTV surveillance.
An officer appointed by the state government conducts the audit. A few days ago, the CEO of Kashi Vishwanath Temple said in a statement that we have prepared an SOP. According to this, the donation money is managed.
What is special about the donation system –
Counting under CCTV
Counting is done by officers and servants
Official record of each donation
Counting is done in an open area
Record submission of money, gold and silver
3- Shri Siddhivinayak Temple –
Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple is known as one of the cleanest religious trusts in India. Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple has also adopted a modern and hygienic system for donations.
What are the features of the donation system? –
Donation through cash, online and digital
The entire process is recorded in CCTV
Records of transactions are kept
The temple trust also conducts regular audits
The donation box is also open two days a week
4-Shirdi Sai Baba Temple –
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan is run under the laws of the Maharashtra Government. In addition to cash, devotees can donate at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple through cheques, demand drafts, online debit-credit cards, bank transfers and foreign currencies. There is a hundi (donation box) and a computerized donation counter system in the temple premises.
What is the uniqueness of the donation system –
24 hours of high-tech CCTV camera surveillance
The entire process is done in the presence of officials
Videography of the donation count
Pocketless clothes of the counting staff
