TEMPLE JEWELLERY-HOW SAFE

Recently the entire world has become dumb with shocking news of commercialization of the temple (God as beneficiary) jewellery by some unscrupulous persons in the guise of Archakas, Poojaris (ref. to culprits only) and Officers (ref. to culprits only). It is indeed a great blow to the sentiments of religious minded, god fearing and of those carrying faith that the God is all pervasive.

The persons who are really responsible for this kind of activities that go hard hitting the sacred sentiments of millions of people in a country like India, should be dealt with severe punishment which could enable the restoration of the disturbed peoples’ unity in cultural diversity. The appropriate government could go a step further recruiting preferably those who have religious faith and god sentiment as employees in temples and the related Trusts. The mismatch in staffing pattern in religious institutions would go a long way harming the thread of national integration through religion.

I as a strong believer of the existence of the God could do nothing more than putting forward my heartfelt concern about the happening devastation in the form of some advisory thought that came up into my mind in support of some of those great philanthropists and designated administrators / officers who are involved in the temples management.

It pains when somebody unconnected or the Government is criticized for no fault of theirs but just due to misdeeds of few offenders with self-centered attitude and disturbing bent of mind. In this context I humbly submit that I really do not know the way the jewellery is really being protected and maintained by the concerned authorities in the temples but yet I strongly feel the reiteration of some of the following thoughts might throw some rejuvenated light on the safety of temple jewellery and valuables. I request the authorities to kindly go through them and try to accept/follow any of the following few thoughts if felt practicable, effective and useful.

1. The entire range of jewellery may be divided into TWO Categories (a) Big and (b) Small items

2. As on the date all the BIG and SMALL items should be individually and scrupulously listed

3. Comparison should be made separately for BIG and SMALL items between the stock of items available 20 years back + additions during 20 years period = the total stock that should be available as per records and the stock of items actually available at present / now.

4. An ad hoc committee [of 12 members] may be constituted by the appropriate government comprising 5 educated independent persons from devotees with social recognition, 1 Reputed Goldsmith, 1 Precious Stones expert, 2 officers who are custodians of jewellery, Executive Officer, Retired TTD Executive Officer, Retired Judge (convener)

5. The committee would go into every minute detail of the jewellery description including the stone counting and their quality verification (with the original ornament maker, if alive) wherever needed / suspected.

FOUR-STAGE VERIFICATION:

6. Twenty Years back lists of jewellery + donations from devotees or from other sources during the subsequent five years as per the books of original entry+ jewellery under repair (if any); a Separate List should be prepared (physically verified) and kept confidentially.

7. Fifteen Years back lists of jewellery (as on date) should be compared with point No.6.Points 6 and 7 should perfectly tally.Find out discrepancies, if any.

8. Fifteen Years back Lists of jewellery (point 7) + Donations from devotees or from other sources during subsequent five years as per the books of original entry+ Jewellery under repair (if any), a Separate List should be prepared (physically verified) and kept confidentially.

9. Ten Years back lists of jewellery (as on date) should be compared with point No.8. Points 8 and 9 should perfectly tally. Find out discrepancies, if any.

10. Ten Years back Lists of jewellery (point 9) + Donations from devotees or from other sources during subsequent five years as per the books of original entry+ jewellery under repair (if any), a Separate List should be prepared (physically verified) and kept confidentially.

11. Five Years back lists of jewellery (as on date) should be compared with point No.10. Points 10 and 11 should perfectly tally. Find out discrepancies, if any.

12. Five Years back Lists of jewellery (point 11) + Donations from devotees or from other sources during subsequent five years as per the books of original entry+ jewellery under repair (if any), a Separate List should be prepared (physically verified) and kept confidentially.

13. Present lists (now running) of jewellery (as on date) should be compared with point No.12. Points 12 and 13 should perfectly tally. Find out discrepancies, if any.

14. List out all discrepancies Date wise, Item wise, Period wise, Value wise (If known), Officers in-charge during those respective periods, --arrive at total loss -period wise.

15. Maximum time limit for investigation and submitting Report should not be more than 50 days. However under unavoidable circumstances extendable for not more than 10 days.

FROM NOW:

16. Suitable boxes may be made with TTD hologram to perfectly accommodate each BIG jewel item engraving the item name on the box.

17. Suitable boxes may be made with TTD hologram to perfectly accommodate each BIG jewel item along with its accessories engraving the name of the item and its accessories on the box.

18. Make suitable Boxes in moderately bigger size (Easy to carry size) for SMALL jewel items to accommodate them in their perfect grooves / chambers description wise Ex: SMALL Karnaabharanaalu in one box, SMALL Hasthaabharanaalu in one box etc. –the idea is not to segregate the sets as they create lot of confusion while being put to use—[some suggestions from the persons who put them to use may be taken to ensure better convenience and comfortable usage]

19. Separate Registers have to be maintained with complete and perfect record of All BIG items, All SMALL items, All loose stones (Category wise), Jewels under repair (Category wise), Miscellaneous Items (with description ) Category wise), Valuable Clothes (with description, Category wise), other valuables if any (Category wise)

20. Wherever possible the name of the donor, his address with Tel.No, and his other details along with the nature, quantity, quality, description of his donation should be noted/mentioned in the Register wherein his donated item is recorded.

21. An impossible to break, sufficient to accommodate all jewellery, chambers type CHEST has to be built (if already not available) inside the temple complex where all through day and night is visible for all. The chest has to be operated with Three Keys. One Master Key (with Designated Officer), and Two other keys (one with Peshkar/temple Officer and the second with Executive Officer / Joint Executive Officer

22. The detached stones should be tested for their genuine quality (find out any duplicate replacement found) –find out discrepancy, if any.

23. A separate computer with highest configuration, along with Scanner of high configuration, powerful colour printer and along with other necessary accessories has to be installed in the vicinity of jewellery storage. This computer will record with pictures all the item wise variety of jewellery the temple is holding on behalf of the Deity.

A dated copy of the jewellery description should be kept under the control of the Executive Office and another one will be with the Chairman of the Trust Board and the Third Copy should be in the TTD bank locker and the fourth one will be with the Chief Secretary Govt. of Andhra Pradesh in the form of CDs.

These CDs will be updated once in a year exactly with a grace period of 10 working days. This computer should be operated only by the concerned designated officer who is whole and sole responsible for the entire process. No need to say that he will be provided with sufficient authority and security around while at the job.

24. All round CC Cameras should be fixed and be made operative with standby powerful UPS in the storage chest and storage area during power failure.

25. Drawing of the jewellery for each occasion from the chest should be through a proper procedure. It should be in the presence of the custodians of the chest mentioned as above. Simultaneous entries have to be made in the Jewellery Outgoing Register Category wise and in the Computer placed therein. All have to sign the register and their names should be entered in the computer every time date wise and time wise.

26. After the purpose is accomplished the jewellery should be kept back in their respective places in the presence of custodians and should be recorded in the Incoming Register and in the Computer- (any automatic system if available may be followed)—all should sign and their names should be entered in the computer every time

27. Ornaments sent for repairs should be handled by custodians and recorded in a Register with all particulars like who is receiving them, their weight, accessories, quantity, quality, nature of repair, time of return, repair charges etc.

28. New donations from any source should be accepted by the Chairman / Executive Officer in the presence / with the knowledge of the custodians against perfect documentation / acknowledgement / Receipt signed by both the Chairman, Executive Officer and the custodians. All of them have to be kept in specially made new boxes for each one of such article with fitting grooves, shapes and compartments.

29. A big Iron ribbed wooden box should be used for carrying the ornaments from one place to another with full escort every time. The drawing Officer will be held responsible for dealing with the jewels till they are kept back in the chest as per the procedure.

30. Monthly reports about the ornaments, jewellery and valuables maintained in the chest should be submitted to the Chairman, Executive Officer and chief vigilance Officer TTD on the same date in every month with a grace period of not more than 2 days against odd circumstances.

31. Any mishap at any point of time should be viewed very seriously and the punishment should be ‘recovery of the cost of such lost item from the person’s property’ who is responsible and not mere suspension, enquiry etc. that are trash.

32. While officers and custodians get changed either due to transfer, retirement, death, vacation of office due to other reasons, the handing over of responsibility should take a long process to ensure that every item is successfully handed over to the successor to get him relieved from his office without any future responsibility. While handing over of the charge it is necessary that the other custodians are present there. If any discrepancy found while handing over of the charge, he has to compensate the loss to the last pie and get relieved and until then he will be in the air / in police custody. His superannuation benefits should not be cleared till the clearance letter is given by the Executive Officer.

33. As and when any damage / loss of jewels at any stage / point of time should be brought to the notice of the other custodians, Executive Officer / Joint executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and the matter must be immediately taken up as to what has happened? How it happened? What was the loss? Who was responsible? How to deal with it? And then it should be properly recorded in the Registers and in the computer.

34. Gold and silver dollars with Lord’s figure that are sold to devotees should be separately accounted for. Gold and silver dollars received for sale from the custodians should be recorded in the computer and in a Separate Register exclusively maintained for this purpose. At the end of the day the balance dollars unsold should be handed over to the custodians and recorded. He will take one acknowledgement from the custodians about the total dollars sold and the sale cash will be remitted at the appropriate place/counter/office. This repeats daily. There will be no chance for any kind of embezzlement while dealing with the dollars.

35. While converting the gold into dollars, the weight of gold handed over to goldsmiths to make dollars to be recorded. Against such quantity of gold how many dollars (of specified weight) of specified purity could be made? Authorities (custodians) with the assistance of temple goldsmith should get tenders from different reputed dollar makers in the country. Order should go to the best quotation. After the stock of dollars arrives, it should be test checked by an independent gold appraiser appointed by TTD for the purpose who will acknowledge the purity aspect before accepting it into the chest.

36. Gold and Silver offerings by devotees through Hundis should be item wise, Day wise recorded in a Temporary Register. All of them should be weighed carefully in two places and should be recorded. They have to be stored in sealed boxes specially made for the purpose. A card notifying the details of date, description and weight etc. is to be kept inside the box and sealed till it is sent for further use as per the Board’s decision. Similar recording should be in the custodians’ Register specially kept for the purpose and in the computer for future verification and further course of action.

37. The TTD management should take enough care while allotting certain important and sensitive positions that are honesty bound to its employees. Right person at the right place, would avoid the nuisance of dishonesty to a maximum extent in the organization where money in flow is more. Persons with integrity and proven track record could be selected for the purpose from the employees’ lot disregarding the recommendations, favouritism and administrative reservations.

38. Showing of Lord’s ornaments, jewellery and valuables to VIPs should be avoided as this practice would create confusion and disturbance to the concerned responsible persons in managing valuable quietly.

39. Aarjitha Seva Tickets: devotees have booked for aarjitha sevas extending to long years. There may be some possibility for embezzlement due to the fact that the reserved sevas mature after a long time gap and many officials either may retire or may change their job location. The Registers wherein the booked aarjitha sevas are recorded need to be verified and make sure that the bookings are genuine and the TTD is in receipt of all payments.

40. Last but not the least the security services inside the temples seem to be are almost persons-oriented and not rule-oriented. They relax and deviate from rules depending on the persons they deal with. The security personnel partly with uniform and partly without uniform should work. They should strike terror to one and all working in the temple violating the rules and regulations of the temple. The security personnel who become the personal assistants of some of the officers of the temple should be given farewell to other departments. When once the security gets tightened many problems and uneasiness can be averted.

The authorities are requested to go through the text of this letter with patience and good conscience and try to take whatever is adoptable to the good of the health of the temple under the present uncertainties. If you think this has some sense, kindly acknowledge.