The DMK government is reforming the state’s temples and their management, and in the process subtly changing its own image
Scaffolding: Maintenance work at Arulmigu Varageswaran Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
Tea The MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government is attempting to give the state’s temples a makeover and also give itself a bargain. A massive renovation plan is underway for Hindu temples, including reclamation of encroached land. The state’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, which oversees temple administration in Tamil Nadu, has been issuing eviction notices thick and fast. The budget allocation for the protection of pilgrims and creation of facilities has increased manifold in the last two years.