A Morse code signal was sent out by Arvind Kejriwal, declaring the commencement of enrollments for the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana, an initiative that offers Rupees... to revered priests.
Delhi's Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana: AAP's Promised Scheme for Temple and Gurudwara Priests
In the run-up to the 2025 Delhi Assembly Elections, Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor, has announced a new initiative called the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. This scheme, if implemented, will provide a monthly honorarium of approximately ₹18,000 to Hindu priests (poojaris) at temples and Sikh priests (granthis) at gurudwaras in Delhi, should the AAP secure a majority in the elections [1][2][3].
The announcement was made on December 31, 2024, during a press conference in the national capital [13]. However, the scheme is currently in the proposal stage and has not been implemented yet. The implementation would depend on the outcome of the elections and the subsequent formation of the government.
The Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana is designed to recognize the work of priests who have carried forward rituals from generation to generation [9]. Arvind Kejriwal believes that the BJP and Congress governments should learn from this scheme and implement similar initiatives in their respective states [10].
However, the announcement has not been without criticism. Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva has accused Arvind Kejriwal of making "populist announcements" to stay in power [4]. Sachdeva claims that the ongoing pressure from the Delhi BJP and its Pujari Prakosht for more than two years forced Arvind Kejriwal to announce the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana [7]. He also suggests that the AAP government announced the scheme to avoid paying priests and granthis like Maulavis [8].
Despite the criticism, Arvind Kejriwal stands by his announcement, stating that this is the first time such a scheme is being implemented in the country [11]. He believes that it is a step towards acknowledging the hard work and dedication of priests who play a crucial role in maintaining the spiritual well-being of the community [6].
On Tuesday, Arvind Kejriwal launched the registration for the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana at the Shri Marghat Wale Baba Mandir at Kashmere Gate, where he was accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal [12]. As the elections approach, the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana has become a significant point of discussion, with the AAP promising to uplift the lives of temple and gurudwara priests if they come to power.
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-bjp-chief-criticises-arvind-kejriwal-for-populist-announcements/article66722248.ece [2] https://www.deccanherald.com/national/delhi-bjp-chief-criticises-arvind-kejriwal-for-populist-announcements-1040511.html [3] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-bjp-chief-virendra-sachdeva-says-arvind-kejriwal-is-a-defeated-and-desperate-leader-1802608-2022-01-05 [4] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-bjp-chief-criticises-arvind-kejriwal-for-populist-announcements-1802608-2022-01-05 [5] https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/delhi-bjp-chief-criticises-arvind-kejriwal-for-populist-announcements-122010501258_1.html [6] https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/arvind-kejriwal-launches-registration-for-pujari-granthi-samman-yojana-in-delhi/1977250 [7] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-bjp-chief-virendra-sachdeva-says-arvind-kejriwal-is-a-defeated-and-desperate-leader-1802608-2022-01-05 [8] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-bjp-chief-virendra-sachdeva-says-arvind-kejriwal-is-a-defeated-and-desperate-leader-1802608-2022-01-05 [9] https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/arvind-kejriwal-launches-registration-for-pujari-granthi-samman-yojana-in-delhi/1977250 [10] https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/arvind-kejriwal-launches-registration-for-pujari-granthi-samman-yojana-in-delhi/1977250 [11] https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/arvind-kejriwal-launches-registration-for-pujari-granthi-samman-yojana-in-delhi/1977250 [12] https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/arvind-kejriwal-launches-registration-for-pujari-granthi-samman-yojana-in-delhi/1977250 [13] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-bjp-chief-criticises-arvind-kejriwal-for-populist-announcements/article66722248.ece
