Tamil Nadu melts over 1,000 kg donated gold to invest for temple development

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Temples across Tamil Nadu have started earning money from gold articles offered by devotees but left unused. 

The state government has melted over 1,000 kg of unused gold from 21 temples and converted it into 24-carat gold bars. 

These bars have been deposited in the State Bank of India under the Gold Investment Scheme, earning a yearly interest of Rs 17.81 crore as reported by the government on Apr 17.

The gold was melted at the government mint in Mumbai. The interest earned from the gold is being used to improve and develop the temples. 

This information was shared in the Tamil Nadu Assembly through a policy note by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) minister PK Sekar Babu.