SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) to review the management of offerings and donations at the Vaishno Devi shrine, with a focus on transparency, accountability and compliance with standard operating procedures.
The meeting, held at the Spiritual Growth Centre in Katra, was attended by Shrine Board members, including Sudha Murty, Ashok Bhan, K K Talwar, Lalit Bhasin and others, along with senior officials of the board.
Officials gave a presentation on the systems in place for the collection, counting, accounting, storage and utilisation of offerings received through donation boxes, donation counters, online platforms and in the form of precious metals.
The board was informed about the verification procedures, surveillance systems, banking safeguards and periodic audits followed in handling donations. Officials said all financial transactions related to offerings are carried out in accordance with banking norms, statutory provisions and guidelines issued by the Government of India.
The meeting also reviewed the security arrangements for handling, storing and transporting precious metal offerings. Officials said such offerings are processed through government-approved institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India and the India Government Mint in Hyderabad.
Following the review, the Shrine Board expressed satisfaction with the existing arrangements for managing offerings and donations, noting the mechanisms in place to ensure transparency, accountability and financial oversight.
