One-year Sabari service must for Travancore Devaswom Board male staff

Kochi: Faced with inadequate staff to manage affairs at Sabarimala during pilgrimage seasons, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has issued an order making it compulsory for its male staff, other than priests, to render one-year service at the hill shrine. The order (ROC 3626/08) issued on September 16 applies to employees from Class IV employees to the deputy commissioner and Laskar to executive engineers in its public works department. However, when contacted, TDB president Prayar Gopalakrishnan denied making service of the staff at Sabarimala, highest revenue collection source, compulsory.

Earlier the order cited there was an acute staff shortage during pilgrimage seasons on previous occasions as many permanent and special duty staff failed to work on one ground or other. “This has affected the smooth running of the state of affairs at the Ayyappa temple, especially those related to the hundi collection and PWD works,” the order, available on the TDB website, said.
It is in this scenario the male staff should render one-year mandatory service from this pilgrimage season one and a half months away.

The department higher officials should record the same in respective service books of the staff and the service period at the temple should also be considered along with seniority for allotting promotions, the order further stated. “I can assure no employee will be deputed at Sabarimala without their willingness,” Mr Gopalakrishnan said.