In a landmark move aimed at bringing long-awaited justice and transparency to the administration of Lord Jagannath’s properties, the Odisha government on Wednesday convened high-level review meetings to streamline land settlement for servitors, nijogas, and maths, and to fast-track the e-Hundi digital donation system for the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Under the chairmanship of Law, Works & Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, senior officials gathered at Lok Seva Bhawan to discuss the third-phase review of the Shree Jagannath Land Settlement Scheme. For decades, thousands of servitors (sebayats), nijoga members, and maths have lived on temple-owned land without clear legal rights. The proposed reforms will grant them rightful occupancy and ownership-like status, ending years of uncertainty.
Officials emphasised that the initiative will not only secure the homes of these traditional stakeholders but also usher in much-needed reforms in temple land management. Crucially, it is expected to boost revenue collection for the Shri Jagannath Temple Fund through proper lease and settlement mechanisms.
Present at the meeting were Law Commission Chairman Justice Biswanath Rath, Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Law Department Principal Secretary Dr Pabitra Mohan Samal, Special Secretary Pranab Kumar Patra, and Additional Secretary Shiba Prasad Mahapatra.
In a parallel meeting, officials deliberated on launching the e-Hundi facility — an online donation platform that will allow millions of devotees across India and abroad to offer their manokamana (wishes) directly into the temple’s hundi digitally.
Key features planned for the e-Hundi system include:
- Seamless donations on birthdays, anniversaries, or any auspicious occasion
- Income tax exemption benefits for donors
- Strict cybersecurity measures to prevent fraud and cybercrimes
- All proceeds are dedicated exclusively to the development and upkeep of the Shri Jagannath Temple
Minister Harichandan stressed that the system must be “foolproof and devotee-friendly,” ensuring that every rupee reaches the Lord while protecting devotees from online scams.
Once implemented, the e-Hundi is expected to revolutionise devotional giving, making it easier for global Jagannath bhaktas to participate in the sacred tradition from anywhere in the world.
These twin initiatives reflect the Odisha government’s commitment to both protecting the rights of traditional temple stakeholders and modernising devotion in the digital age — a perfect blend of heritage preservation and forward-looking governance in service of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath.
