Nanjangud:  Even as the priests and employees of Sri Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hill in Mysuru ended their stir seeking fulfilment of their demands on the second day of the stir on Saturday, priests and employees of Sri Srikanteshwara Temple in Nanjangud staged a demonstration in front of the Temple this morning to press the Government for addressing their issues.

Maintaining that Srikanteshwara Temple is classified as ‘A’ Grade Temple and was among the richest temples of the State, earning a huge revenue every year, the employees claimed that the Muzrai Department was paying wages that was stipulated over 20 years ago.

Demanding that the Temple employees be covered under the State’s Sixth Pay Commission, the protesters urged the Government to regularise the services of contract employees, sanction of one month pay as bonus, jobs to the kith and kin on compassionate grounds in case of employee’s death and payment of Rs.5 lakh as honorarium on retirement, among others.

The protesters submitted a memorandum containing their charter of demands to the Temple Executive Officer Kumaraswamy, Muzrai Tahsildar Yathiraj Sampathkumar and Nanjangud Acting Tahsildhar  Mahesh who visited the spot. Following assurance from the officials that their demands will be forwarded to the Government for consideration, the employees called off the protest in the afternoon.

Due to the protest, all pujas and rituals at the Temple were suspended after the regular abhisheka was performed early this morning. Srikanteshwara Temple Employees Association office-bearers were present.

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