The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has implemented a sweeping change to its cash donation counting system at the revered Ram Temple in Ayodhya. In a collaborative decision with the State Bank of India (SBI), the Trust has removed all 36 staff previously involved in counting offerings, entrusting the entire responsibility to regular SBI employees.
This overhaul marks a complete departure from the previous system, which relied on employees hired through private agencies. Sources indicate that the primary motivation behind this move is to bolster transparency and accountability in the handling of the substantial cash donations received at the temple. The new system ensures that the entire process is now managed directly within the regulated banking framework.
Staff Dismissed Without Notice
The 36 employees, initially comprising 23 individuals followed by an additional 13, were reportedly hired as housekeeping staff through a private agency in Varanasi and subsequently assigned to donation counting duties. They have been asked to surrender their identity cards and uniforms and were instructed not to report for duty. The Trust clarified that these dismissed individuals are separate from the eight accused in a previous donation theft case.
The removed employees claim they were dismissed without prior notice or a clear reason for their termination. They also highlighted a discrepancy in their remuneration, stating they received approximately 15,000 rupees per month, while the private agency was paid around 26,000 rupees per employee for their services.
Broader Operational Network Changes
This change is part of a wider initiative by the Ram Temple Trust to modernize and secure its operational network. Sources suggest that many long-standing contractors responsible for various services, including cleaning and maintenance within the temple complex, are also being replaced. The Trust aims to establish a new operational framework that ensures stronger oversight and accountability for all sensitive tasks related to the temple's management and finances.