THE Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has, of late, been focussing on socially relevant programmes. Although the administration has pursued this line of action in some form or the other ever since its inception, the present management has identified this aspect as the thrust area.
The Devasthanams Trust Board Chairman, B. Karunakar Reddy, in an interview to Frontline, pointed out how the widening gulf between temples and the marginalised sections of society made the latter vulnerable to oth er social and religious influences.
In order to address this problem, the TTD embarked on two major programmes Dalita Govindam and Kalyanamasthu. Under Dalita Govindam, the TTD took the idols of Venkateswara and His two consorts to the doorsteps of Dalits of Vemuru village near Tirupati and performed kalyanam (marriage) to the deities in their presence.
Karunakar Reddy claimed that given the social taboo, Dalita Govindam could possibly be considered a path-breaking step undertaken by a religious institution in recent history. He said the twin objectives of Kalyanamasthu were conducting free marriages for eligible couples belonging to poorer sections and cutting down the extravaganza associated with present-day marriages. The TTD provides a gold mangalasuthram (the nuptial thread with a pendant) weighing 2 grams to each bride and wedding robes to each couple. So far 15,000 couples have been married in various parts of the State under this ongoing programme.
Another socially relevant endeavour of the TTD is the Spiritual Gurukula Pathasalas, which are proposed to be set up in all the districts at a cost of Rs.20 crore each, to provide free education to poor children.
The syllabus for these schools, being prepared in collaboration with the National Council for Education, Research and Training, would focus on Indian values, ethos and culture.
In order to reduce the burden on the TTD coffers, the Chairman said the administration planned to tap non-resident Indians for funds.
A. DevarajanCOMMents
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