Tamil Nadu open to training women as priests: Minister

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, June 12

Tamil Nadu is preparing to turn over a new leaf, with the state minister in-charge of endowments on Saturday saying women who wish to serve as priests will be trained to do so and duly appointed as priests with prior approval of Chief Minister MK Stalin.

PK Sekar Babu, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, made the statement on Saturday after a meeting the CM chaired with the Associate Commissioners at the office of the Commissioner of Hindu Religious Affairs.

The review meeting discussed the DMK Government proposal of an “all caste archaka” (priests from all communities) scheme under which the state wants to train people across all segments of society and communities to work as priests in the temples.

The state has more than 45,000 temples. The longstanding tradition has been for a section of Hindus to serve as priests.

Asked if the government would also be willing to train women priests as part of its all-community priest scheme, Babu said, “If women want to work as priests they will be trained and appointed as priests with the approval of the CM.”

The minister’s remarks became a subject of intense controversy on the social media minutes after he spoke, indicating that the road towards gender equality in the service of God would be long and rutted.