State Institute of Temple Administration (S.I.T.A.)

State Institute of Temple Administration (S.I.T.A.) was originally established during November, 2010 by the Andhra Pradesh Dharmik Parishad in the undivided state of A.P under the administrative control of Commissioner of Endowments with a mandate to organize training programmes for all the employees of the Endowments Department. Accordingly SITA successfully organized about 200 training programmes for the Religious, Administrative, Engineering & Sculpture Wings, etc. in the Endowments Department for their capacity- building, skill development and professional updating in job-related functions and for improvement in the quality of the Temple related functions.

S.I.T.A. is again revived as a separate entity under the Government of Andhra Pradesh during April 2015. Dr. C. Vijaya Raghavacharyulu who functioned as Director in the previous establishment has taken over as Director in the revised S.I.T.A under A.P Government. SITA functions in coordination with Sri Venkateswara Vedic University (SVVU), SVETA of TTD certain institutions of religious and cultural training established by certain Peethams and Mutts.

TRAINING MANDATE OF THE GOVERNMENT

The guidelines stipulated by the Department of Personnel and Training (DOP&T) Government of India are being followed wherever necessary. Keeping in pace with the Training Mandate of the Government of Andhra Pradesh in pursuance of the National Training Policy, 2010 (NTP) of the Government of India, SITA undertakes the capacity-building, skill development and professional excellence – oriented programmes on regular basis. S.I.T.A. caters to the needs of different employees working in different wings such as Religious, Administrative, Engineering and Sculpture (Stapathi) wings etc. in the Department under headquarters-based and de-centralized basis. The major temples under the administrative control of the Department provide facilities for conducting training programmes under de-centralized basis.

S.I.T.A. AT WORK

Apart from its mandate of Capacity-building and skill-development, SITA undertakes several responsibilities like recruitment of Veda Parayanadars, organization/ coordination of important fairs and festivals at the major temples and actively associated with training of religious and administrative staff involved in Dharma Prachara programmes of the Department.