In a move raising serious concerns about transparency and consent, the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has melted over 1,000 kg of gold articles offered by devotees to 21 temples across the state.
The gold, deemed “unused” by the department, was sent to the government mint in Mumbai, converted into 24-carat bars, and deposited in the State Bank of India under the Gold Investment Scheme. According to a policy note tabled in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by Minister P.K. Sekar Babu, this investment is now generating ₹17.81 crore annually in interest, which the department claims is being used for temple development.
As of 31 March 2025, a total of 10,74,123.488 grams of gold had been melted. The Arulmigu Mariamman Temple in Samayapuram, Tiruchirappalli, alone accounted for over 424 kg — the single largest contribution to the scheme. The interest earned from the scheme is reportedly being used for the development of the participating temples.
Three regional committees headed by retired justices have been formed to oversee the implementation of the scheme.
The government has also approved a similar plan for unused and unusable silver items in temples. These will be melted into pure silver bars by government-approved private smelting companies, within temple premises and under the supervision of zonal committees. The process is currently underway.
The move has sparked unease among traditionalists and devotees, many of whom consider these offerings as sacred gifts made in faith — not financial assets to be liquidated and invested. The decision to melt them en masse raises serious questions about religious autonomy, public trust, and the broader role of the state in managing temple wealth.
(With inputs from Economic Times)
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