After 20 years, TTD regular employees get privileged darshan, other benefits

Tirupati: For the first time in the TTD’s history, two special counters were set up at MBC 34 cottage in Tirumala for issuing special entry darshan tickets for families of the regular employees. It may be noted that the TTD employees and their families were not allowed by temple management for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam on December 29, 2017. In fact, employees had alleged that they were ill-treated by officials. 

Highlights:

• 2 counters set up for issuing `300 special entry darshan tickets to regular employees on production of photostat copy of identity card   
• Even, they are entitled for 40 laddus and 5 rooms in a month
•  The EO orders will benefit more than 10,000 regular employees

Protesting the insult meted out to them by higher officials, TTD regular employees have issued a strike notice seeking action against those officials, who were responsible for ill-treating them. 

Later, EO held discussions with the leaders of the employees unions on providing special privileges to regular employees. The EO instructed the officials concerned and reception wing to take necessary steps for providing Special entry darshan tickets, laddus and rooms for TTD regular employees and their family members on the basis of producing the identity card. 

On the orders of TTD EO Anil Kumar Singhal, temple officials have set up two special counters at MBC 34 cottage for the TTD regular employees. These two counters were started by the TTD authorities on Friday at Tirumala. 

Hereafter, the TTD employees can avail Rs 300 special darshan tickets and Rs 50 laddus and rooms at these special counters on producing of their photostat copy of identity with prescribed request application. As per the EO orders, regular employees can avail 40 laddus and 5 rooms in a month. For the benefit of TTD employees, currently authorities are allocating 8,000 laddus and 200 rooms per day. 

TTD authorities have drafted guidelines for availing special privileges by its employees. According to these guidelines, an employee can avail maximum two rooms and ten laddus, as well as darshan tickets not exceeding the limit of 10. The orders given by EO will benefit more than 10,000 regular employees. 

Speaking to The Hans India, TTD Staff and Workers United Front President M Nagarjuna said that they were demanding the TTD management for the last 20 years to provide privilege darshan, allotment of rooms and laddus to regular TTD employees. However, the present EO Anil Kumar Singhal responded positively on our demands, he stated.