Touted as world’s largest fund collection drive, over Rs 2000 crores have so far been collected in Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, during the 44-day Samarpan Nidhi Abhiyan which began on January 15 (Makar Sankranti) and ended on Magh Purnima on February 27 (Saturday). The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra will reveal the exact amount collected through offline and online medium in next few days. Sources said that in Jharkhand the collection will be around Rs 50 crore, however, the final figure will come out within aweek.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra State fund collection coordinator Virendra Sahu said, “As fund has been collected from urban as well as rural area. The exact figure of total collected fund will be reveal in next few days. However, people have donated fund with much enthusiasm for temple collection.”
“The abhiyan was a great success and it was unique in the sense that it broke all boundaries of religion, caste and community. People from different walks of life and sects donated whole-heartedly for the construction of Sri Ram Lala temple in Ayodhya,” said Sahu.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra for fund collection had constituted small group (tolas) comprising members of VHP, Bajarang Dal, RSS and other saffron outfit functionaries. Each tolas were given the task to collect fund in their respective areas.
Virendra Vimal a senior VHP functionary looking after fund collection campaign at Hesal area said, “We had the target of fund collection in Hesal area. In one month we have collected more than Rs 11 lakh which is a good amount.” Donations for Ram temple construction were accepted in voucher of Rs 10, Rs 100 and Rs 1000. Those making donation higher than Rs 2000 were given receipt.
Similarly, a RSS functionary Gulab Singh looking after the fund collection drive at Deputy Para area said, “We had collected Rs 3 lakh in one month. People from Rs 10 to Rs 5000 contributed for the auspicious work.”
Sources said that the amount may go beyond Rs 50 crores as many donation cheques are yet to be deposited and many are in queue for bank clearance. The exact amount would be known after final tabulation.
The 43-day drive will run till February 27 and the VHP, during the period, try to reach nearly 5.25 lakh villages connecting around 11 crore families in the country. In Jharkhand, the VHP has targeted to reach out to nearly 43 lakh families in 25,000 villages. In Jharkhand there are around 32,000 villages.