AP Government Issues SOPs To Account for Hundi Donations at Temples
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for opening Hundis and sorting the contents, including cash and valuables, strictly under centralized CC camera surveillance systems in all temples in AP.
The SoPs come in the wake of a controversial theft from the Parakamani of Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) as well as the disappearance of five kg silver ornaments and other valuables from a temple at Kadiri in Sri Satyasai district.
Endowments commissioner K. Rama Chandra Mohan has issued these detailed SOPs with comprehensive revised guidelines, which should be strictly implemented by endowments of all temples in Andhra Pradesh under categories 6 (a), (b) and (c) falling under the jurisdiction of regional joint commissioners (RJCs), deputy commissioners (DCs) and district endowments officers (DEOs).
Accordingly, all administrative officers of temples must necessarily inform the respective administrative heads of RJC, DC and DEO about the date and time of opening and counting of Hundi at least five days in advance. These administrative heads are supposed to monitor the Hundi counting through the central CC camera system. In their absence, a responsible inspector should be assigned to this task and a separate register should be kept detailing the names of the temples, date and time of census, name of the supervising officer and other details.
Administrative heads must retain a copy of Hundi census transactions for at least 30 days for accountability and verification purposes.
According to the SOPs, Hundis of eight major temples located at Simhachalam, Annavaram, Vadapalli, Dwaraka Tirumala, Vijayawada, Srikalahasthi, Kanipakam and Srisailam should be opened for counting every 15 days, while in all temples they should be opened for counting every month.
Each hundi will be secured with a double lock system where one key will be with the concerned district endowment officer and the second key will be with the administrative officer of the temple. The DEO must definitely attend Hundi inaugurations in temples under the post of joint commissioner and deputy commissioner. In all other temples, the presence of an inspector or an officer not below the rank of inspector is mandatory.
Hundi counting should be done between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. and the money obtained from all opened hundis should be counted and deposited into the bank account on the same day. Under no circumstances should unaccounted money be stored in the temple storeroom. The temple EO must inform the police, revenue and bank authorities five days in advance. The EO must open the Hundis in the presence of the supervising officer, attending devotees, police personnel and temple staff. The entire process should be recorded on video.
All male personnel assigned for counting must wear dhoti and naga and shirts, banians and jubbas are not allowed. All records, documents, rubber bands, weighing machines, purity testing equipment should be kept ready, counting personnel should leave their wallets, gold and other ornaments, mobile phones and cash at the designated place.
Students and women will not be included in the hundi counting process. No vehicles belonging to the EO, trustees and other officers should be parked near the counting hall. Police personnel must thoroughly check temple personnel when they leave the donation counting area and record their signatures in the movement log book.
CCTV cameras should be installed along the route to the toilets.
During festivals, temporary canvases should be covered so that the offerings left by devotees are visible. Canvas hundis must be sealed by the authorities. Ornaments taken at Hundis should be photographed and kept in the locker in the presence of both the EO and the supervisor.
All cash, coins and foreign currency received through Hundis must be delivered to the bank and the challan must be received on the same day. Entry must be made to the Hundi Assortment Register on the same day. Only after the entire process is completed can the EO and the supervising officer leave the counting hall.
“We have started following SOPs under electronic surveillance in all temples. We hope there will be no disruptions,” said a senior endowment official.
