TIRUPATI: The idea of deputing students to overcome hurdles plaguing the Parakamani, the process of counting and sorting of the currency offered by devotees in Srivari hundi, has yielded satisfactory results for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the affairs of the Lord Venkateswara temple.
The temple receives an average income of Rs 3-5 crore daily in the form of offerings by devotees to the Srivari Hundi. The annual income of the temple administration is `1,200 crore from the Srivari Hundi alone.
The temple administration has been struggling to handle the unmanageable process of sorting coins and valuable articles other than cash which are piling up every day inside Parakamani.
TTD employees are said to have expressed their disinterest in Parakamani duties, which they feel is an additional burden.
This has had an impact on the counting and sorting of currency coins at Parakamani, with coins piling up in the last few months. The TTD has roped in college students to do the counting and sorting. The temple administration recently issued orders to principals of S.V. Arts College, S.G.S. Arts College and S.V. Oriental College to depute students who are willing to do the job at Parakamani. Nearly 150 students from these colleges were engaged in counting the Hundi collections at the Parakamani in Tirumala as well as the coins at the Parakamani in Tirupati on Monday. Two batches of 25 students each were deputed at the two places.
“The young students have completed the counting process quickly. On the first day, the sorting of currency coins at Tirumala temple had finished by afternoon, at around 2.30 pm as against the usual time of finishing by 4 pm or 5 pm. Roping in the services of students was a big success and we are planning to continue this process with students regularly,” a official said.
The students who participate will be provided with free transport and given breakfast, lunch, and snacks along with darshan and four laddus to every batch that volunteers.
