Its taboo as we said. It’s weird that many do not seem to mention it and the person who decided to talk about it was not really back up with the majority. That’s the Funding of religious groups and activities in Mauritius! Should it continue? We gonna see.
About 5 days ago, Clency Lajoie, adviser at the municipality of Curepipe decided to move with a proposition to stop the funding of religious groups and their activities by the municipality money aka YOUR MONEY!
His main proposition was that instead of funding religious groups and activities, why don’t we use this money to do real social activities that will help everyone. However after a municipal vote proceeded the next day, his proposition was rejected as the majority (not wanting to say all) voted against it. The why is the BS question now?
Just to give you a small insight about the amount of money used here are some figures:
Eid Festival: Rs 95000
Easter Related such as church visits: Rs 75000
Chinese Festival: Rs100000
And there are much more festival coming soon! Now most of you will say that these money are being used to give each religion his share of the cake aren’t you? What share? Money was used for the Eid festival Chinese festival, Easter and even Mahashivratree. How? To organize activities and lunch and dinners. (Manze Boire) and?
Oh yea thank you Mr Invisible for making me remember. I nearly forgot the scotch powered parties. So who benefited the most? Some muslims for one day or one week? Some christians for some days before Easter? Some Chinese for one week? Some Hindu for one week? And what about the other days? What about the others? After the festivals, who benefited most ?
The public or the leaders of the organisations and groups?! The worst about it all is that we the citizens of this country do not even know a damn of how the money is spended! How much of it goes to the shop while how much goes to the pockets! Shops and suppliers… Good point! Which shops and suppliers? Always the same prefered ones!
The question is that why can’t these money be used where it should be used! Rs 100000 for chinese festival! Why can’t the Rs100000 be used to help students of the region? Why can’t it be used instead to buy food for the needy? Why can’t the money be used to help where it is really needed?!
As if God ever asked for finance in each religion! Are we promoting the process of buying religious faith with money?
Do you think this funding of religious activities and socio cultural activities should be stop? Or are you for it? And the most important question is why so almost all the deciders there voted against the abolition of such an illogical funding?
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nilou
NILOU
hi good afternoon,
Politician are not going to stop financing religious groups as they have a hidden agenda. politician always use religion to do politics. what do we see in grand bassin political leaders take big and religious groups whether it is muslims hindus christians always seek advantages with these politicians. these funding should be stopped as it is taxpayers money. it can be used more usefully like in hospitals, it can be used for public benefits or the poor. religious groups can collect money among there own people to run there day to day business.
jai hind
asalamalekum
namaste
good day to you all friends
Kurt Avish
Exactly. Now if those religious group would have use the money for really useful for people it would have been different. But most “get zot poche plis”.
I am for the opinion that if they are dedicated they must find donation money to do their stuff. If it is a new group which does not get much donation, then still they must do what they can with what they have. Because many groups are formed ONLY for the sake of getting these money. Its like money is motivating them to keep the culture and not culture which is giving them money to protect it.
kazak
Well Yashi, you seem to have quietened evreybody on the issue. congrats.
I am trying to separate religion and culture in Crisis Island,; I am not that bright and cannot find many that are actually separated. I’ll recall as you mentioned, sega, fisherman,Lion dance,fire crackers on 31st Jan. Lundi cordonnier,favours, rode bout, gossip,magouille,bribe corruption, 1st may,vote block (including pied banane..) please try to help me name more..
As a matter of fact, I do not think that the Tourist as someone said would be interested in the majority of it. Remember that it has been the policy of all government to keep the tourist secluded. Just a few tours to some hot spots, then quickly dodo hotel.
There isnt even a place where one can go and watch freely sega dancers perform daily unless one stay in a hotel complex.
I also forgot that we are good as criticising (including I) and then no action. Real Mauritian Culture…!
Yashi
“The economy will come to an end if people stop consuming and people stop working… it shouldn’t be because of the Govt also…
Literacy rates will drop if all kids stopped to go to school… it shouldn’t be because of the govt also…
My point is that… those packages are given to “stimulate” that sector.”
I don’t think you understood what I meant, I meant the efforts and money put in by people are more important than any Govt funding, such that govt funding is not the only way to prevent cultures from dying or not growing. Govt funding, even though it does help the growth and survival of cultures also brings its share of problems in terms of religion mixing with politics.
I normally like the state to be separate from any religion, no involvement by the Govt in religious activities. It is somewhat utopian and unrealistic, but atleast if the govt are going to stimulate these areas, they should do it better, hence why I think it should either be stopped altogether or managed more properly. Given the ‘high’ competence of our Govt, I would not consider one moment that the funds could be allocated and managed better.
I also think cutting Govt funding could make people more involved in cultural occasions, because a lot of us take them for granted.
But of course, there are 2 sides to every coin…
And don’t get me started on education funding
that should be another topic, Kurt!
Yashi’s last blog post..State of Play: Mini Movie Review
Yashi
Mauritius’s multicultural society is directly linked to the various religions co-existing in the society. There is barely any culture not linked to a specific religion, for those cultures not linked to any religion (maybe the fishing culture in Mauritius, or sega culture) should be protected with help from the Govt, but why does the Govt need to blindly sponsor Maha Shivratree or Xmas or other religious festivals? Someone forms part of a religious group, he puts his money into preserving his group, or not necessarily money, but maybe help in some other form. At the end ofthe day, religious funding always has a hidden political agenda. It’s just a political tool used to keep the masses happy and, I have to admit it, put a few dollars in the Govt’s treasure chest.
If cultures happen to die out, it shouldn’t be because the Govt removed funding for them, but because people entrenched in that culture did not put much effort themselves. There is no other reason why cultural activities should stop.
Yashi’s last blog post..State of Play: Mini Movie Review
Yudz
sega culture is not linked to any religion? think again! everything is interlinked.
as i said, government do not sponsor specific events. yearly allowance only.
effort? i guess you have never organised a public event. the amount of effort required from the members are nothing compared to the money received.
and about fund misuse, you should not generalize. maybe a few clubs do that, but most of them thrive..
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Yashi
Which religion in Mauritius is Sega linked to? It’s not linked to any religion, it originated from the rich African culture that was brought to Mauritius by Africans, it’s not linked to any religion.
I have organised a lot of events, don’t worry. And read well please, I didn’t say the current amount of efforts being put in is small, I said IF a culture HAPPEN TO DIE OUT WITHOUT THE LACK OF FUNDING (which is the purpose of this debate, i.e whether funding should be removed or not), then it WOULD NOT be because of a lack of Govt funding but other factors like unwillingness of parties concerned to put enough of their own money or efforts in. Once again, I am NOT, i repeat, NOT saying the current amount of efforts being put in events is small.
Only a few people murder other people, not everyone, it doesn’t mean murder should be legalised. Either the Govt control the money well (i know I must be dreaming to write ‘govt’ and ‘control money well’ in the same sentence) or Govt removes ALL its funding.
Yashi’s last blog post..State of Play: Mini Movie Review
selven
@yashi: because the government has the responsibility to keep cultural heritage alive.
Yes it does happen (many a time) that religion happens to be mixed along.
The economy will come to an end if people stop consuming and people stop working… it shouldn’t be because of the Govt also…
Literacy rates will drop if all kids stopped to go to school… it shouldn’t be because of the govt also…
My point is that… those packages are given to “stimulate” that sector.
Everything brings something…
Keeping cultural heritage alive brings in tourists.. its a two way stuff… it is among the small details that makes the country beautiful.
Without culture, a country would be like a body without soul. It can have a strong education, strong economy base and a strong millitary force.. but if there’s no “cultural” roots… what makes that country different from another country??? There’s no notion of identity…
It just happens that we have mixed religion along with culture .. but many a times… it just can’t be any other way.. it is like this.. because culture and religion can’t be totally separated.. Yes, some cultural values exists without religious bounds, but there are also other cultural aspects that exists with religion only.
The only possible method to enforce a fair system is to just… have a rule that says you can’t not accept a member because of race/religion in your organisation.
Yes atheist might feel bad because it is also their money which is going in that.. but then, many people who work don’t like to that their tax money is being spent on free transport for students… you just have to live with it. Or create an atheist club society
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yusha
“moreover, i dont think the government gives liquid money. NO money is given to a third party. if you have requested something like to distribute briani, the government will pay a credible ‘company’ to cater for the briani and receipt is issued for that. so there is no possibility for misuse of the ‘money’ (for scotch etc)”
Actually it is true that government gives no liquid money . So that government allocate an allowance for a socio cultural activity. The society as such should be registered by the registration of association .
I give an example : For Mahashivaratree government allocates to 3000 rs to each hindu society ,
The society will president and treasurer will have to go to the municipality of district council where the society is located,
Then a cheque of 3000 rs will be issued on the SOCIETY NAME.
Once the cheque in hand the president or treasurer go their respective bank to get the money .
Now there is no guarantee that the society will not make misuse of the same . The people many also buy scotch . Once the cash in hand their is no control of how it is used. There are possibilities to use the money in a wrong way.
Yudz
This is false. NO check is allocated for mahashivratree! maybe a yearly negligible allowance given, but not for specific events. Can you prove that check is issued for mahashivratree? some evidence from trusted sources?
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yusha
If you want to cross check , then you can surely go to the nearest municipality or district council near your place and ask if cheques are issued or not.
Yudz
as far as i know, its no! prove me otherwise..
else i will see to that tomorrow..
Yudz’s last blog post..Deaths due to human-to-human virus transmission
Kurt Avish
I can confirm that too.
Go and check with the municipality…. All registered society get these amounts… Now 3000 is not a big sum…but when u consider how many societies there are…and how many are deads ones….who jst collect the money and do nothing! Yes there are many who do nothing…..you will not even know if the president or whoever got the money and did what….mostly the very unknown ones….
selven
actually yusha, here in lies the fraud… you are given the choice of which caterer will make the briani
.. and most catering group will want the contract… and who will be given the contract? ofcourse the one who promise to “make a higher bill” but make sure to take only his share, and give the surplus to the person who gives him the contract….
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