'Will pass amended Endowment Act at Upper House after 3 months': D K Shivakumar

He addressed the gathering after inaugurating a convention of beneficiaries of the state government’s five guarantee schemes, organised jointly by the District Administration and Zilla Panchayat, on Allama Prabhu Ground.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar speaking at the convention of beneficiaries of the state government’s five guarantee schemes in Shivamogga on Saturday. Photo | Special Arrangement

SHIVAMOGGA: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said that the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was defeated by the BJP-JDS in the Legislative Council, will be passed after three months when the Congress gains a majority in the upper house.

Shivakumar addressed the gathering after inaugurating a convention of beneficiaries of the state government’s five guarantee schemes, organised jointly by the District Administration and Zilla Panchayat, on Allama Prabhu Ground here on Saturday.

Shivakumar said that through the influence of the priests (archakas), devotees find Shiva even in a stone. “We introduced a bill [the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment (Amendment) Bill, 2024]. The government, through this legislation, wanted to allocate 10% of the income from charity from large temples to pay salaries to priests, provide insurance coverage, and assistance for their children's education."

However, the BJP and JDS, which advocate for temples and religion, defeated the bill in the council. In three months, we will secure a majority in the upper house and pass the bill,” Shivakumar said.

The DCM emphasised that the government is committed to empowering APMCs and disadvantaged communities and that no one will be able to obstruct it.

Shivakumar asserted that the government will not permit the eviction of poor people from forest areas. He noted that under the Forest Rights Act, forest rights can be claimed by residents who have primarily lived in forest land for bona fide livelihood needs for 75 years.

“Our government will propose a resolution and submit it to the Centre to reduce the requirement from 75 to 25 years and grant forest rights to individuals from all communities,” he added.

He also pledged that the state government will not displace poor residents from forests, reaffirming the government's commitment. He further promised to safeguard the interests of Sharavathi Project evacuees. “Our government is combating poverty, not the poor,” he affirmed.