New Delhi, Dec 31: Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), today launched the registration process for the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana.
Accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal, he visited the Shri Marghat Wale Baba Mandir in Kashmere Gate to inaugurate the scheme’s registration.
This move follows Kejriwal's announcement on Monday regarding the 'Pujari, Granthi Samman Yojana.' Under this scheme, priests of temples and granthis (priests) of Gurudwaras will receive a monthly honorarium of approximately Rs 18,000. Kejriwal stated that the scheme would be implemented once the AAP forms the government after the upcoming elections in Delhi.
Speaking about the initiative, Kejriwal remarked, "Today, I am announcing a significant scheme called the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. This will provide an honorarium to priests and granthis, amounting to around Rs 18,000 per month. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. Priests have long carried out religious duties and rituals across generations without much attention to their own families. Sadly, we too have not paid them the attention they deserve."
He added, "We understand the invaluable role of pujaris in our lives—whether during the birth of a child or the loss of a loved one, they have always connected us with God. Despite their service, they often neglect their own families, and we have failed to properly support them. This initiative is the first of its kind in the country. We've introduced numerous firsts in Delhi, from improving schools and hospitals to offering free bus rides for women. I hope that governments led by the BJP and Congress will take inspiration from this and implement similar schemes in their states."
