Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee at its meeting today approved the annual budget for the year 2023-24.
“While the earnings (receipts) have been estimated at Rs 271.07 crore in the budget, the expenditure has been estimated at Rs 262.16 crore. This is a fiscal surplus budget. The fiscal surplus is Rs 8.91 crore,” informed Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Ranjan Kumar Das briefing reporters after the meeting.
Das said that earnings mainly from quarries, hundi, donations, land acquisition compensation, income from Bhakta Nivas and other miscellaneous sources have been listed under receipts.
Similarly, under expenditure, expenses for observing and conduct of rituals of different festivals like Snana Yatra, Rath Yatra, remuneration to ‘palia sevaks’ for the services rendered, maintenance and operation of various Bhakta Nivas, sevak welfare scheme, ‘Sevak Awas Yojana’, ‘Gurukula Yojana’ have been included, he added.
The SJTA Chief Administrator informed that while Rs 3.50 crore has been allocated for spending under Sevak Awas Yojana, Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for Gurukula Yojana.
Also, funds allocation has been made for the promotion and publicity of Lord Jagannath’s glory, he added.
Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee’s meeting was chaired by Puri’s titular king Gajapati Maharaj Dibya Singha Deb.
Puri Collector, Puri SP, all members of the managing committee and administrative officials of the temple attended the meeting.