Karnataka CM Proposes Statewide Scheme to Use Temple Gold for Deities, Allocates ₹215 crore for Yellamma Upgrade

Temple Gold Scheme

Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar announced a statewide plan to record gold and jewellery kept in temples and to use it for adorning deities instead of storing it. The proposal was made at the Renuka Yellamma temple in Savadatti, Belagavi district. He said the religious endowments minister will look at using about 42 kg of gold held by the shrine for the deity. Shivakumar stressed that proper accounts must prevent concerns about gold being kept in boxes and disappearing.

Yellamma Development

The government has set aside ₹215 crore for the overall development of the Yellamma temple complex. Improvements will include better accommodation for pilgrims and free meals at the shrine.

Local Projects

Shivakumar also unveiled a ‘Negilayogi’ scheme to provide tractor ploughing for poor farmers owning less than three acres. An irrigation project costing over ₹500 crore is under construction in Savadatti, and a request for an additional lake‑filling work will be examined. About ₹43 crore has been allocated for healthcare and other infrastructure in the constituency. The plan calls for creating 10,000 Bharat Jodo youth groups at the gram panchayat level across Karnataka.

Context

Using temple assets for worship addresses long‑standing worries about unaccounted jewellery and supports local development efforts tied to religious sites.