Mamata Banerjee announces stipend for Bengal Brahmin priests in a major outreach prog ahead of 2021 elections

Mamata Banerjee government has decided to pay Rs 1,000 per month as a stipend to over 8,000 priests across the state. Sanatan Bhahmin priests without a house will be given house under Bengal Awas scheme.

Key Highlights

• Bengal priests will be given Rs 1,000 every month as a financial aid to fight poverty, claims Mamata

• Priests without a house will be given houses under Bengal Awas scheme

• Opposition questions if the move is Mamata's outreach to Hindus ahead of elections 2021

Kolkata: Priests in West Bengal will get a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 from Durga Puja festive season, announced Mamata Banerjee, state Chief Minister on Monday. Hit by impoverishment and with Covid-19 lockdown further adding to their woes, around 8,000 priests across the state have registered for the benefit, claimed Ms Banerjee.

The state government has also decided that priests of the Sanatan Brahmin sect will also be covered under the Bengal Awas Yojana scheme and provided with houses.

"We have earlier provided land to Sanatan Bhahmin sect to set up an academy in Kolaghat. Several priests have met me and requested if we can do something for them. There are many in far-flung villages living in a lot of distress. Thus we have decided to pay them Rs 1,000 every month. Those who don't have a house will also be given one under the state Awas Yojana. They are very poor and a small financial aid can be helpful" said Mamata Banerjee

The list of priests is still in the making and the state government will also expand the outreach to others from a different religion. "We will give the same benefit to gurus of Gurdwara and Church bishops if they approach us, please don't see this differently," claimed Mamata Banerjee.

Previously in a similar outreach program, the state government had announced stipend for Imams and Mouzzins, that later clarified to be funds channelised from the minority Waqf Board but had drawn widespread criticism from opposition political parties who touted the move as Mamata's minority appeasement politics.

Political pundits call the move to pay monthly stipend money to priests as a coarse correction by her for a far wide outreach to Hindus ahead of all-important West Bengal Assembly Election 2021.

BJP had previously slammed the state's intent to pay to Imams and Mouzzins as lopsided and apathy towards Hindu Sanatan Brahmins. But the Chief Minister has hit out at political detractors warning them of seeing any politics in it. Due to the lockdown, several priests have suffered financial difficulties as all temples had remained shut for over two months and many of them had been dependent on obeisance offerings.

Mamata Banerjee government has also decided to map Hindu temples, Masjids and other religious structures with heritage and legacy from across the state for restoration and preservation with the idea to promote integrated pilgrimage.