Many social media users are sharing an image of a car with a board that reads, “Member Cristian Priests and Church Employees Welfare Board, Government of Tamil Nadu.”
Those sharing the image are suggesting that Hindu temples are funding the Christian Welfare Board.
A social media user shared the image and wrote, “How come Hindu temple funds being used for Christian church employee welfare. Why church can’t take care of their own employees, feeding on Hindu blood just to shred Hindu numbers.”
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The Christian Welfare Board comes under the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department.
On searching with relevant keywords, we found a notice issued by the district collector on behalf of the Tiruppur District News Public Relations Office. According to the notice published on March 9, the Welfare Board for Pastors and Employees Working in Christian Church was established for the social, economic and educational status of Christian church workers, including pastors, catechists, disciples, singers, cemetery workers and staff in Christian orphanages, leprosy homes and rehabilitation centres.
The notice further stated that the membership of the board could be obtained from the District Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Officer or the District Minorities Welfare Officer.
Moreover, anyone who aspires to be a member of this board must complete an application form and have certificates from recognised churches within the respective district, including Roman Catholic Archbishops and Bishops, Protestant Church Bishops and Pentecostal Church Synods.
Radio Veritas Asia also reported on the establishment of a welfare board for church workers in Tamil Nadu. The report suggested that the board was being formed under Minister for Minority Welfare and Overseas Tamil Welfare.
Another notice by the Thoothukudi district, which was published on October 22, 2024, stated that the Welfare Board for Preachers and Workers serving in Christian churches in Tamil Nadu was established. The purpose of the board was to improve the social, economic and educational well-being of various Christian workers, including preachers, priests, disciples, singers, cemetery workers and staff in Christian orphanages and leprosy rehabilitation centres.
The members of the board must be individuals between 18-60 years old and belong to the Christian faith. Moreover, the applicants were asked to obtain a certificate from the administrator of their respective Christian church or a Village Administrative Officer and attach it to their application.
The notice further mentioned that the board will provide welfare schemes to registered members and their families, similar to those offered by other unorganised sector boards operating under the control of the Department of Labour and Employment.
A notice published on site of the Kallakurichi District on March 14 stated that the Tamil Nadu government was providing financial assistance of up to Rs 20 lakhs for the repair and renovation of ancient Christian churches in Tamil Nadu. The notice stated that the government was implementing various schemes on behalf of the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department.
Moreover, we can see that various welfare schemes for Christians, including the Christian Priests and Church employees Welfare Board, come under the department of Welfare of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities.
This established the fact that the members of the Christian Priests and Church Employees Welfare Board are under the department of Welfare of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities.
When we checked how the funds of Hindu temples are handled, we found a notice published by the Tamil Nadu government. In the tenth chapter of the ‘Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959’ it is mentioned that, “The temple fund may be used for maintaining the temple and its buildings in good condition, for spending on religious rituals customary in the temple, and for the education, progress, social and cultural development of the Hindu community.”
