The state government of Tamil Nadu has decided to melt the gold donations of the temples and deposit them in banks to raise funds for development projects and welfare schemes for temples.

The scheme will be monitored by retired judges to make it a transparent affair. 

"The gold offerings gave by devotees during the past 10 years, which are in excess after being used for the needs of the temples, will be melted at the government mint at Mumbai and the pure gold thus received will be deposited in banks to net additional revenue for temples. To monitor this process, committees headed by retired judges will be formed," HR&CE Minister PK Sekar Babu announced while replying to the discussion on the demands for grants for his department in the State Assembly.

"This scheme has been in force since 1978 and it went on smoothly till 2010. Tiruttani temple was the last from where the excessive jewels were made into gold bars. After that, for some reason, the scheme was stopped. As a result, large quantities of gold jewels have piled up in many temples and verification was also not done for these jewels," official sources said. 

Explaining the process involved for this scheme, official sources said, "Some of the gold jewels offered by devotees would be useful for adorning the Utsava Moorthis (the idols which are taken in procession) while many cannot be used in that way. These unused jewels would be taken to the government mint in Mumbai. The jewels made of various grades of gold undergo a purification process there and authorities of the mint deliver bars made of pure gold. These bars would be deposited in bank lockers."

The entire process of segregation of jewels will be live-streamed to avoid any complaint.

For this purpose, three zones would be created for the entire State. "We expect the whole task to be over in three to four months. When the temple requires any finance, say for renovation works, these gold bars can be monetised," the sources added.