Kathmandu, July 25:

Guthi Sansthan is likely to dismiss chitaidaar at Kumari ghar in Kathmandu Gyandevi Shakya for her failure to furnish financial statements.

Chitaidaar looks after Kumari, the living goddess, and Kumari House.

Simant Chapagai, Chief Executive Officer of Guthi Sansthan, said Shakya wasn’t doing her job sincerely.

“Kumari should get utmost care and attention. We are not satisfied with Shakya’s service,” Chapagai added. According to Chapagai, Kumari should be given 51 per cent of Bheti (money offered by visitors to Kumari.

“Shakya could not provide financial statements to us,” Chapagai added.

Shakya was appointed the caretaker of Kumari 24 years ago.

Malla ruler Jay Prakash Malla initiated the tradition of worshipping Kumari as the living goddess. The Shakyas have been looking after Kumaris since then.

Talking about fuzzy financial statements furnished to Guthi Sansthan, Gautam Shakya, son

of Gyan Devi Shakya, said whatever they had furnished was crystal clear. “Once, officials of Guthi Sansthan came without prior notice to check financial statements, but we furnished everything that they demanded,” he added.

Saying that they were not allowed to work elsewhere, Gautam said there was no question of being irregular in their duty. “We are not even paid for our work here. We are finding it difficult to eke out a living,” Gautam said.

Chapagai said the Kathmandu Metropolitan City was providing Rs 25,000 to Kumari and

Rs 15,000 to her caretaker and her family living in Kumari House every month.

He said Guthi Sansthan was studying financial statements provided by Shakya. “We will dismiss the caretaker once we get proof of misuse of the amount collected. Right now, we need some time to study the matter,” Chapagai added.

However, Gautam said it was not easy to dismiss the caretaker. “Guthi Sansthan itself cannot decide the matter. It must approach the government and hold consultations with society and cultural experts before dismissing the caretaker,” he said.