Odisha Plans New ‘Debalaya Yojana’ to Preserve Temples and Mutts

Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to protect Odisha’s cultural heritage, the state government is set to launch the Debalaya Yojana, a scheme dedicated to preserving and managing temples and mutts across the state. Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan announced the upcoming initiative on Monday, noting it will address longstanding issues related to shrine management, reconstruction, and conservation.

“Our government is developing a dedicated scheme to support religious shrines, taking into account challenges faced by temple and mutt authorities,” Harichandan explained while speaking to the media. “The scheme will cover management issues as well as specific reconstruction and conservation needs that have persisted over time.”

He added that a comprehensive blueprint for Debalaya Yojana is currently in the works, aiming to finalize the structure of the scheme before discussing detailed implementation plans.

The Law Minister highlighted that while the earlier Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme launched by the previous government had focused on reconstruction, Debalaya Yojana will broaden the scope. “This new scheme will not only continue support for reconstruction but also address a wider range of issues faced by the shrine authorities,” he stated.

Once launched, Debalaya Yojana is expected to streamline efforts to conserve and rejuvenate Odisha’s historic temples and mutts, preserving the state’s rich cultural and religious heritage for future generations.