Andhra Pradesh: TTD Extends Financial Aid To Families Of Two HDPP Artistes Killed In Road Accident
"Their untimely death while travelling to discharge an official assignment has caused immense grief and financial hardship to their families": TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu
TIRUPATI: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each for the families of two private artistes who were killed in a road accident while travelling to perform an official Harikatha programme under the Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad (HDPP).
Violinist K. Chakravarthi and tabla artiste K. Nagaraju Chetty were engaged by HDPP to render devotional services at the TTD temple in Satravada on Friday. While travelling on a motorcycle to the venue at around 9 am, they were involved in a collision with an APSRTC bus near the Vadamalapeta–Pudi Cross and died on the spot.
TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu said the artistes were on their way to perform a devotional programme assigned by HDPP when the accident occurred. "Their untimely death while travelling to discharge an official assignment has caused immense grief and financial hardship to their families", he said.
Naidu said the existing HDPP and TTD rules do not contain any provision to provide funeral assistance, ex gratia or educational support to private artistes who die in accidents while on duty. "Considering the exceptional and unfortunate circumstances, we have decided to examine this case from a humanitarian perspective", he said.
Following discussions with TTD Executive Officer Muddada Ravichandra, Joint Executive Officer Dr. A. Sharath and HDPP Secretary Dr Medasani Mohan, TTD sanctioned ₹25,000 each from HDPP funds towards funeral expenses and ₹5 lakh each as ex gratia to the legal heirs of the deceased artistes.
The Chairman also announced that, if the artistes have children, TTD will provide them free education in its educational institutions up to the degree level. He said the decision will be placed before the next TTD trust board meeting for ratification.
