Odisha Govt Raises Insurance Amount Of Puri Jagannath Temple Servitors

Puri: Odisha government has increased the health insurance amount for the servitors of Jagannath temple in Puri to Rs 5 lakh.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a number of welfare programmes for the servitors on Tuesday. Those included raise of health insurance from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Besides, they will be entitled to additional Rs 5 lakh for treatment of critical diseases.

The state government will also extend financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the children of the servitors to avail coaching for entrance test for professional courses including NEET, JEE and Civil Services. The beneficiaries can get the assistance three times in a year.

The government has sanctioned Rs 10.85 crore to the Jagannath temple administration to pay the increased insurance amount, coaching fees and other assistance to the servitors, a release from the chief minister’s office said.

The chief minister made the announcement following suggestions submitted by 5T chairman VK Pandian. The servitors had taken up their demands with Pandian during his visits to Puri several times earlier.