Odisha Fights COVID-19: Jagannath Temple Mulls Relief Fund To Help Govt

Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has discussed a plan to set up a relief fund to help the state government combat COVID-19.

SJTA members proposed to create ‘Shree Jagannath Corona Relief Fund’ at a meeting here on Monday. “Though the proposal was accepted unanimously, SJTA chief administrator Krishan Kumar will take the final call,” said SJTA administrator (development) Ajay Kumar Jena.

Devotees from across the globe will be urged to donate to the proposed fund, Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee member Ram Chandra Dasmohapatra informed. “The fund will be ultimately donated to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF),” he added.

Notably, all rituals at the shrine have been held behind closed doors since March 20, when the temple was closed to devotees amid the coronavirus outbreak.