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Pandits render puranas in protest
Purana pandits working in TTDs Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad on Monday embarked on a novel protest by rendering non-stop ‘purana pravachanam’ to press the Tirumala-Tirupati Devastanams management for their long-pending demands. The pandits were demanding the temple administration to regularise their services, pay increment and clearance of 6-year-old arrears.
Tirupati: Purana pandits working in TTDs Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad on Monday embarked on a novel protest by rendering non-stop ‘purana pravachanam’ to press the Tirumala-Tirupati Devastanams management for their long-pending demands. The pandits were demanding the temple administration to regularise their services, pay increment and clearance of 6-year-old arrears.
Speaking on the occasion, CITU district general secretary and Sri Balaji Purana Pandithula Union (SBPPU) honorary president K Murali said that 38 Purana pandits were working in the Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad (HDPP) for 20 years rendering their services based at various places, including Tirupati, Tirumala, Hyderabad and also in the 23 districts of the two Telugu-speaking states AP and TS.
Regularisation of services
Salary increment
Clearance of arrears
After a prolonged struggle by the union, TTD trust board issued orders for payment of the arrears from 1996 to 2010 duly recognising the Purana Pandits post equivalent to LDC (lower division clerk) and paid the arrears. The Purana Pandits were earlier getting programme-based remuneration without any other benefits being provided to HDPP employees.
But, later the HDPP stopped increments to Purna pandits from 2011 and is paying only the salary despite several representations and protests by the union forcing the pandits taking to the street, CITU leader explained.
SBPPU president Bhagyalakshmi said that despite the Purana pandits rendering the crucial service of Purana Pravachanam (religious discourse) in temples and also during special occasions like utsavams in temples in the districts and also in Tirupati, Tirumala and Hyderabad, promoting spiritualism in a big way, fulfilling the avowed aim of the TTD, they were not recognised by the management.
She demanded that the HDPP and TTD management to provide job security to Purana pundits by regularising their services. The regularisation resolution was adopted by the TTD trust board in August 2010. She also wanted the TTD to pay the arrears pending for six years other benefits like issuance of identity cards, medical facility.
CITU state leader K Srinivas, who came from Vijayawada, expressed solidarity to Purana pandits struggle and demanded the TTD to agree for their genuine demands immediately. SBPPU secretary Karunakar Reddy and others were present.
