TRICHY/TUTICORIN: Chief minister M K Stalin will inaugurate the Annadhanam scheme for 5,000 people every day at three temples in Tamil Nadu on September 16, minister for Hindu religious and charitable endowment (HR&CE), P K Sekar Babu said on Tuesday.
The scheme will be launched at Subramaniya Swamy temple at Tiruchendur, Mariammantemple at Samayapuram and Murugan temple at Tiruthani on Thursday. The minister told the reporters that the HR&CE department retrieved 180 acres of temple land from the encroachers after the DMK came to power.
Babu along with the minister for municipal administration, K N Nehru, inspected the Samayapuram Mariamman temple premises and the swimming pool for elephant at Akilandeswari Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikovil in Trichy after completing his visit to Tiruchendhur.
Earlier in the day, the minister inspected the works carried out by the department at the Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur in Tuticorin district.
Talking to reporters at Tuticorin, he said that efforts will be taken to streamline tonsuring at the temples under HR&CE department to ensure that the barbers do not collect money from devotees.
The minister said that ear piercing at these temples will also be streamlined. While annadhanam (free food) is offered round-the-clock at two temples in the state, it will be offered at three more temples from Thursday.
