evidence: CHENNAI: The DMK government has made significant strides in the HR and CE Department during past three years, which includes retrieval of temple lands worth Rs 5,577.35 crore from encroachers, an official release said. [...] The release also said 15,753 temple priests have been getting Rs 1,000 per month and Rs 10,000 has been given to 400 legal heirs of priests who work in temples where the One Time Pooja Scheme is implemented for pursuing higher studies.