Background

Friday, 13 May 2011 09:37

The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) is a statutory body set up under the Hindu Endowments Act in 1968. Its role, as set out in the Act, is to administer those endowments placed under its administration.

The word “endowment” is defined in the Act to mean any endowment in land, building or money given for the support of any Hindu temple or other Hindu purpose. The endowments administered by the Board are:

1. Sri Mariamman Temple
2. Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
3. Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple; and
4. Sri Sivan Temple

Under the Act, the Hindu Endowments Board also has supervisory powers over the accounts of all Hindu endowments in Singapore- even those not administered by the Board. Any person managing an endowment is obliged, at the request of the Hindu Endowments Board, to attend before the Board and answer questions in relation to the endowment.

The Hindu Endowments Board comprises a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Finance Member and 12 members who are appointed by the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports. To be appointed, a member must be both a Singapore citizen and a Hindu. Appointments are for a period of three years each. The Secretary of the Board is a public officer appointed by the Minister.

In addition to managing 4 temples, the Board administers two kindergartens (Saraswathy Kindergarten and Saraswathy Darma Muneeswaran Kindergarten) and a half way house (HEB-Ashram). Major Hindu festivals like Thaipusam and Firewalking are organized by the Board.