Tirupati: Devotees are feeling better after the tonsuring staff were removed from their duties for demanding money. Political leaders are supporting the staff. But, the devotees who visit Kalyana Katta for tonsuring, feels the difference as they have not paid a single penny for tonsuring. TTD had taken action on the tonsuring staff for demanding money from the devotees. More than 240 members were Kept Out of Duties (KOD) and all the irregularities were recorded in the CCTV footages.
Though there are permanent barbers for TTD, considering the heavy rush, TTD had hired few barbers under Srivari Seva. Later they were paid for the work they did. They were paid Rs 11 for tonsuring and Rs 4 per Scissoring. The tonsuring staff who are kept out of duties are still protesting in front of the TTD administration building. A barber who has been kept out of duty said, “There are many departments in TTD which are corrupted, but no action will be taken on them. We might have taken a small amount from devotees, but, this is not the proper remedy for it. The TTD should take back their decision.”
K. Ramesh Babu a devotee from Ongole said, “The tonsuring staff behaved rudely on my last visit. Now their behaviour has changed. They are not demanding money and not even taking the money being offered. I have seen in the news that disciplinary action is being taken on them. I have complained about the same many times.” An official from TTD on condition of anonymity said, “The EO is keen about pursuing the issue. There is political pressures to press them back into work. They are harassing the public. The EO has taken this step after receiving many complaints about the Kalyana Katta.”
