HR&CE Dept May Waive Rs 5 Temple Phone Deposit Fee, Says Minister C Ramesh

CHENNAI — The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department may consider waiving the Rs 5 mobile phone deposit fee at temples and implement alternative arrangements if devotees experience inconvenience, HR&CE Minister C Ramesh announced on Thursday.

Ramesh stated that temple administrations across the state have been instructed to streamline procedures so that visitors do not have to wait in long queues or face hardships while depositing their mobile devices before entering temple premises.

Temple authorities have received specific directives exempting several groups from the phone deposit restriction. Pregnant women, parents carrying infants, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are not to be subjected to the rule, the minister noted.

Addressing the financial aspect of the service, Ramesh said the government would examine the possibility of waiving the nominal fee based on the financial standing of individual temples. He clarified that the Rs 5 charge was never intended to serve as a revenue-generation mechanism for the department.

The phone deposit counters are currently operated by members of women’s self-help groups. According to the minister, the collections gathered from the deposit fees are used to pay the wages of these workers, while any remaining surplus funds are directed to support the temple annadhanam scheme.

Ramesh added that temple authorities will actively gather and review feedback from devotees, and necessary adjustments to the deposit process will be carried out based on their input.