Tamil Nadu Converts Over 1,000 kg of Temple Gold into Revenue for Development

In a significant step to utilize unused donations for temple development, the Tamil Nadu government has converted more than 1,000 kilograms of unused gold offerings from 21 temples into 24-carat gold bars. These bars have been deposited with the State Bank of India under the Gold Monetisation Scheme, generating an annual interest of ₹17.81 crore.

The gold conversion was carried out at the government mint in Mumbai, and the interest earned is being reinvested into the improvement and maintenance of temples across the state. This initiative was detailed in the policy note presented by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister P.K. Sekar Babu in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Tamil Nadu melts 1,000+ kg of temple gold, earns ₹17.81 crore annually in interest.

As of March 31, 2025, the total quantity of refined gold collected stood at 10,74,123.488 grams. Among the temples, the Arulmigu Mariamman Temple in Samayapuram, Tiruchirappalli district, contributed the most—an impressive 424.26 kg.

To ensure the transparent implementation of the scheme, the state has constituted three regional monitoring committees, each headed by a retired judge. These panels oversee the evaluation, transportation, and banking of the temple gold assets.

Initially paused, the initiative was revived in 2021–2022 following government approval and has now become a recurring revenue channel for religious infrastructure projects.

Building on this success, the state has also greenlit the melting of unused and unserviceable silver items from temples. The transformation of silver into pure bars will be handled by government-approved private companies. Unlike the gold, the silver will be melted directly at temple sites under the supervision of zonal committees, each led by a retired judge, mirroring the oversight structure established for the gold scheme.

The process of silver conversion has already commenced, marking the next phase in Tamil Nadu’s strategic plan to unlock the value of long-dormant temple offerings for sustained religious and cultural development.