Staff crunch hits appraisal of temple gold offerings

Hyderabad: Gold offerings made to the temples run by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Endowment departments have not been appraised for years. Though, an annual valuation and appraisal of the gold and ornaments offered by devotees should be recorded and apprised for their valuation, the same is not carried out due to shortage of staff.

valuation woes

• There are hundreds of temples in both the States, which haven’t carried out the mandatory appraisal for years
• Some temple EOs hire services of local goldsmiths to weigh the gold offerings in hundi
• Posts of valuation officials of precious stones are vacant
• AP Principal Secretary of Endowments J S V Prasad says a permanent mechanism will be put in place

Even though, temples like Simhachalam, Annavaram in Andhra Pradesh and Yadagiri Gutta, Bhadrachalam in Telangana, have their own jewellery appraisal officers but there are hundreds of other temples in both the States, which lack sufficient staff and not carried out mandatory appraisal process for years.

Speaking to The Hans India, an Endowment Assistant Commissioner said, “There are three zones in Andhra Pradesh. While Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari and Krishna fall under one zone. Whereas, Guntur, Nellore and Ongole fall under another zone, and there is one more separate zone for Rayalaseema districts. But, out of two jewellery appraiser posts only one appraiser was appointed. Whereas, there are more than 150 temples in six districts starting from north coastal Andhra to Krishna district, the sources added.

The appraisal officers are recruited directly and only law graduates and post graduates are eligible for the post. They should have three years of experience in case of High Court, and 10 years of practice in case of district courts. There is also reservation for those serving in the department for these posts. Apart from this, there are valuation officials of precious stones and gold but all those posts are vacant.

What is more disturbing is lack of proper appraisal and valuation mechanism with qualified persons, the Executive Officers of several temples are taking a safe route. “Whenever gold is found in the Hundi, we summon a local goldsmith and weigh it. But, we don’t vouch for the quality of the gold. So, we note it down as mixed gold, and a final say on it rests with the appraisers and valuation officers,” he added.

“While this is case in AP, the situation in Telangana is not any better. Each EO is made in-charge of two to three temples. On the top of it, there is only one temporary appraisal officer stationed at the Endowment Commissioners’ Office in Hyderabad. Along with an outsourcing person, he will have to tour entire State for appraisal of the gold and other valuable gifts offered by the devotees to the temples,” said an endowment official from Warangal.

At present there are 25 executive officers, 7 deputy commissioner posts are reportedly vacant in Telangana endowment department. To meet the shortage, the government is trying to bring in RDO range officials on deputation, he said.

Clarifying on this, the AP Principal Secretary Endowments J S V Prasad said steps are being taken to develop a permanent mechanism to address the issue, after the division of staff between the two States, he said.