Odisha Govt Advances Jagannath Temple Land Settlement, Plans E‑Hundi for Devotees
The Odisha government has accelerated the third phase of the Shree Jagannath Temple Land Settlement Scheme, aiming to provide legal occupancy rights to servitors, nijoga members, and maths who have lived on temple-owned land for decades without formal titles.
The reform is expected to secure homes, modernise land management, and strengthen temple fund revenues through structured lease mechanisms.
A high-level meeting chaired by Law, Works & Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, with Justice Biswanath Rath and Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee in attendance, reviewed the progress and directed officials to ensure justice and transparency in the settlement process.
In parallel, the government is preparing to launch an e-Hundi digital donation system, enabling devotees worldwide to contribute securely online.
The platform will allow donations for occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries, offer income tax exemptions, and incorporate robust cybersecurity safeguards.
Minister Harichandan emphasised that the system must be “foolproof and devotee-friendly,” ensuring funds are dedicated solely to temple development and upkeep.
Together, these initiatives reflect Odisha’s commitment to heritage preservation and digital modernisation, protecting traditional stakeholders’ rights while enabling global devotees to participate in sacred traditions online.
