The State government has extended the Devadasi rehabilitation programme to four more districts - Davangere, Chitradurga, Shimoga and Yadgir - from this year.

A survey conducted in 2007-08 identified 23,787 women who had given up the Devadasi practice and as many as 13,879 above the age of 45 were selected as beneficiaries.

The government has approved the list of beneficiaries submitted by the Women and Child Development Department. 

The rehabilitation programme was introduced in Raichur, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Haveri, Koppal, Gadag and Dharwad districts. With the inclusion of four more districts, the project will reach a total of 14 districts.

As many as 2,592 Devadasis have been identified in Davangere, 759 in Yadgir, 406 in Chitradurga and 24 in Shimoga district. 

A total of 1,843 former Devadasis will get an allowance of Rs 400 a month in Davangere district. The government has released Rs 29 lakh for disbursement among Devadasis for the period from December 2011 to March 2012, said Mokshapathi, the Rehabilitation Officer. He said from next year onwards, the beneficiaries will get a loan to take up income-generating activities.

However, the ‘porn viewing episode’ has cast its spell on the welfare project of the Devadasis.  The Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation and the Women and Child Development department were planning to organise a convention of former Devadasis in Koppal on February 17.

Sources said the convention may not be held following the the resignation of C C Patil as Women and Child Welfare minister.