Currently, these two temples have two units in charge of managing the collection and disbursement of donations. Why is that?
The answer is because each year the amount of money collected is up to tens of billions of dong, and wherever there is money, there are many people who get their hands on it... Money has a "sticky" quality, if there is no strict control, then "private corruption" and "embezzlement of public money" can completely happen.
That is why the government of Tam Diep city, Ninh Binh established the Relic Management Board, with the purpose of having transparent control over the donation money at Dau temple and Quan Chao temple. But the establishment of the Management Board was previously opposed by the elders.
Why do you object?
This is because the management and administration of these two temples are done by about 100 "priests" from Ly Nhan residential group (in Yen Binh ward, Tam Diep city). The priests do not want any more individuals or organizations to interfere in the "donation box" they are managing. Please note that from 2023 onwards, the main source of donation revenue is used to pay the more than 100 priests.
What people are upset about is that they don't know how much money they collect in donations, and the local government is not allowed to report it. Every year, tens of billions of dong are collected without clarity and transparency about revenue and expenditure, so it is impossible to have an honest conversation.
In September 2023, the Tam Diep City People's Committee established the Management Board of the 2 temples. When the government intervened strongly, the monks were forced to accept, but conflicts arose. At a temple, two management organizations appeared, both the "donation box" and the "incense oil box" were placed side by side. The "donation box" was established by the Temple Management Board under the Tam Diep City People's Committee, and the "incense oil box" was managed by the temple's "monks".
No one gives anyone else money, no one trusts anyone else to be transparent about money, that is the cause of conflict.
It is time for Ninh Binh province leaders to completely rectify the donation collection activities at Dau Temple and Quan Chao Temple. The government has the Heritage Law, Land Law, Religious Belief Law, Prime Minister's Official Dispatch, Circular 04 of the Ministry of Finance, and Regulation 34 of the Provincial People's Committee to regulate all activities at the relics, including the collection and disbursement of donation money.
Please act according to the provisions of the law, do not allow spontaneous activities, self-determination in the management, use and spending of donation money. Whoever opposes is deliberately embezzling the donation money, the story of devoting effort to contribute to the relic is just lip service.
