Odishatv Bureau

Puri: The Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) raised the monthly remuneration of its temporary empolyees during the year’s first meeting here today.

The temple’s Class-III staff will get an increased payment of Rs 10,400 per month while their Class-IV colleagues will receive Rs 9,000 per month as decided in the meeting.

Last month, the temporary employees of the temple had held a dharna demanding wage hike. After SJTA promised them that their demands would be considered, the agitating staff had withdrawn their stir.

Besides, the meeting discussed about three proposed spots for setting up a medical college in the pilgrim town.

Sources said land in Samagara, Malatipatapur and Sipasarubali Mouza has been identified for the proposed medical college and the SJTA talked about that in today’s meeting.

Health insurance of the temple servitors was also approved in the meeting, Puri collector Arvind Agarwal later told mediapersons.

Meanwhile, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb was not present during the discussion who was supposed to chair it. Reason behind the Puri royal’s absence is not yet known. Former SJTA chief administrator Mahimohan Tripathy presided over the meeting in Dev’s absence.

Among others, SJTA chief administrator Bikash Mohapatra, Puri SP Ashis Kumar Singh and other members of the managing committee were present during the discussion.

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