Last pay cheque for religion dole yet to enter account

Kolkata: Monthly financial assistance provided by the state govt to imams, muezzins and Hindu priests was discontinued from June, with beneficiaries receiving their last payments in May, following a decision by the newly elected BJP govt to end religion-based assistance schemes.

Last month, the state cabinet approved a proposal to discontinue assistance schemes based on religion that were being run by the information and cultural affairs department and the minority affairs and madrasah education department. Officials clarified that the decision covers monthly honorariums paid to imams, muezzins and purohits.

Several beneficiaries TOI spoke to on Monday confirmed that the stipend was not credited to the bank account on the first of the month.

The honorarium for imams and muezzins was introduced by the former Trinamool govt in 2012. Financial assistance for purohits was launched in Sept 2020.

“Financial help to imams, muazzims and purohits is being discontinued. A fresh notification will be issued listing the schemes that are being discontinued,” said a govt official after the cabinet meeting.

Later CM Suvendu Adhikari had defended the move at a public meeting saying it was govt’s responsibility to provide financial doles to religious functionaries.

According to official figures, the minority affairs and madrasah education department was providing financial assistance to 41,205 imams and 39,028 muezzins. The information and cultural affairs department was extending similar assistance to nearly 5,000 Hindu priests.

Under the scheme, imams received a monthly honorarium of Rs 3,000, while muezzins and purohits received Rs 2,000 each.

Initially, the govt paid the honorarium directly to imams and muezzins from the state exchequer. However, the Calcutta High Court later struck down the arrangement. The state then routed the payments through the West Bengal Board of Auqaf. Funds were transferred to the board, which then disbursed the honorarium to imams and muezzins.

Religious functionaries and representatives of their organisations largely welcomed the govt‘s decision.

“We welcome the new govt‘s decision to discontinue the stipend of imams and priests. We hope and urge the govt to work for all citizens without discriminating against anybody on basis of caste, community and religion,” said Bakibillah Molla, president of the All India Imam Association.

“Imams play a crucial role in society and help in conveying policies and message of the govt. We will continue to fulfil all our responsibilities,” Molla added.

Abdullah Gaji, imam of a mosque in Reckjoani in Rajarhat, said the assistance was not sought by religious leaders. “We did not go to the former govt asking for a stipend. The govt decided on its own and also gave the same stipend to priests. Now the new govt has discontinued it, which is fine,” Gaji said.

Representatives of Hindu priests also backed the decision.

“We support the decision of the govt to discontinue the stipend to imams and priests. Govt must work for all the sections of the society,” said Gopal Mukherjee, a member of the Bangiya Purohit Samaj.

Jayanta Kushary, principal of Sarba Bharatiya Prachya Vidya Academy, which organises training camps for Durga Puja priests, said govts should not provide allowances to religious functionaries. “The govt cannot provide allowances to priests. It is a serious crime. Instead, the govt should focus on employment generation for youths,” said Kushary.

Rajib Banerjee, former state minister and Trinamool Congress neta who had played a key role in initiating financial assistance for purohits, expressed concern over the impact of the decision. “It is the decision of the present govt to discontinue this scheme from today. However, poor purohits will be severely impacted,” said Banerjee.