MYSURU: Priests and employees of Chamundeshwari temple have decided to stage a protest during Ashada month and Chamundeshwari Jayanti celebrations for denying them hike in salaries for the past 10 years. The members of Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Employees Association have alleged their demands have not been met by the Deputy Commissioner and Muzari department officials.
Association president K Sinivas said only 80 out 160 employees are paid salaries as per the Fifth Pay Commission while it does not apply to 50 per cent of the employees.He said these employees work on festivals, general holidays for more than eight hours. Referring to temple revenue collection of Rs 29.87 crore during 2017-18, he said if all the 160 employees are paid according to the pay commission, it does not exceed 35 per cent of the temple revenue. He said the delay has pushed employees into financial crisis.