Crowds of people jostling to worship Lady Chua Xu of Sam Mountain at the beginning of the year of Giap Thin 2024 - Photo: BUU DAU
Information from the report "Results of the overall inspection of the management of donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural relics nationwide in 2023" recently sent by the Ministry of Finance Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Hanoi leads in donation collection: 672 billion VND
The report said the figure of 4,100 billion VND above does not include donations, in-kind sponsorship, construction works; donations and sponsorship for religious activities of religious organizations.
And that is the revenue figure of only 15,324 relics (49%) out of a total of 31,581 relics ranked or listed in the inventory of relics nationwide that have reported. Many relics have revenue and expenditure but do not report.
Of the total 4,100 billion VND in donations and sponsorships for relics, the revenue from religious establishments was 3,062 billion VND (75%). The revenue from religious establishments was 1,038 billion VND (25%).
The highest revenue was collected by 7 relics with over 25 billion VND, including: Ba Chua Xu Temple in Chau Doc, An Giang 220 billion VND; Bao Ha Temple in Bao Yen, Lao Cai 71 billion VND; Con Dao Prison historical relic site in Ba Ria - Vung Tau 34 billion VND;
Song Son Temple in Bim Son, Thanh Hoa 28 billion VND; Hung Temple in Phu Tho 26 billion VND and 2 relics in Hanoi: La Khe communal house in Ha Dong 28 billion VND and Trinh Ngu Nhac Temple (Huong Pagoda) in My Duc 33 billion VND.
There are 7 provinces and cities with revenue of over 200 billion VND, including: Hanoi 672 billion VND, Hai Duong 278 billion VND, An Giang 277 billion VND, Bac Ninh 269 billion VND, Hung Yen 242 billion VND, Nam Dinh 215 billion VND.
Quang Ninh province was assigned to pilot the inspection, the revenue in the first 4 months of 2023 reached over 67 billion VND (including revenue at Ba Vang Pagoda and some relics), estimated revenue for the whole year is over 200 billion VND.
There are 9 provinces and cities with revenue from over 100 billion VND to under 200 billion VND, including: Hai Phong 183 billion VND, Thai Binh 169 billion VND, Vinh Phuc 127 billion VND, Bac Giang 122 billion VND, Phu Tho 119 billion VND, Lao Cai 116 billion VND, Nghe An 115 billion VND, Ninh Binh 110 billion VND, Thanh Hoa 105 billion VND.
Total expenditure in 2023 is 3,612 billion VND. Of which, management expenses are 445 billion VND (12%); festival expenses are 692 billion VND (19%); expenses for restoration and embellishment of relics are 1,643 billion VND (46%);
Expenditures for propaganda, security and order assurance, fire prevention and fighting, environmental protection, renovation, upgrading and construction of new auxiliary works at the relic site were 542 billion VND (15%); expenditures for charity and humanitarian activities were 290 billion VND (8%).
The report on revenue and expenditure of donations "only reflects a part, not the whole"
The Ministry of Finance assessed that the management of donations and sponsorships at relics has been changing positively towards openness and transparency since the Ministry of Finance issued Circular No. 04/2023/TT-BTC on January 19, 2023.
However, most local reports say that the reported data on revenue and expenditure of donations and sponsorships from relics, including special national relics, only reflects a partial and incomplete picture.
As for private relics, clan churches do not report. Relics in Dak Nong province are reported to have no revenue, donations, or sponsorship.
At relics that are religious establishments, there are basically activities of collecting and spending money on donations and sponsorships, but about 31%, equivalent to 1,771 relic establishments, do not report.
For reported relics, the numbers may not be complete because if the relics have plates and trays placed on altars for people to place donations without surveillance cameras, "whether transparency is guaranteed or not depends entirely on the self-awareness of the relic's representative".
Donating by bank transfer is normal, civilized, and easy to control.
According to the Ministry of Finance, donations and sponsorships in the form of QR code transfers are growing rapidly.
Nowadays, cashless payment is no longer strange and is becoming a habit of everyone. Donating and sponsoring by bank transfer is normal, civilized, easy to control, and does not hinder religious activities.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nam-2023-ca-nuoc-thu-4-100-ti-dong-tien-cong-duc-mieu-ba-chua-xu-cao-nhat-220-ti-dong-20240626182242967.htm
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