Endowments principal secretary Chitra Ramachand-ran was sworn in as ex-officio member of the TTD trust board at Tirumala on Wednesday. TTD EO L.V. Subramanyam administered the oath of office and secrecy at Bangaru Vakili in the holy shrine during a simple ceremony. She is the first woman officer to become ex-officio member in the TTD.

A GO issued by former chief minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy in 2005 to make the endowments principal secretary and Tuda chairman as ex-officio members of the TTD board led to her induction into the board. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy took the decision to make her ex-officio member following the recent resignation of previous endowment principal secretary K.V. Ramanachary.

Ms Chitra took charge as principal secretary of the endowment wing on Janua-ry 6. She offered prayers to the presiding deity and te-mple priests blessed her at the Ranganayaka Mandap-am. Speaking to mediapersons outside the temple, she said that this was the most memorable event in her life and it was because of the blessings of the Lord that she had become an ex-officio member.

She said that the TTD board and officials have been working in co-ordination to improve amenities for devotees. Tirupati JEO Venkatrami Reddy, CVSO M.K. Singh and PRO T. Ravi were present among others.