TTD exploiting contract staff: MLC

Tirupati: MLC Y Sreenivasulu Reddy said that he would raise the issue of contract employees working in TTD in the Legislative Council to draw the attention of the government on the violation of rights of the employees.

Reddy participated in the signature campaign taken up by TTD Contract Employees Union (TTDCEU) here near TTD Administrative Building on KT Road, on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, the MLC slammed TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal for the exploitation of the contract and outsourcing employees working in various departments in the TTD. 

The TTD administration is derailed after Singhal took the mantle of TTD administering the famous Tirumala temple, he flayed. The TTD witnessed many controversies in the last one year including the retirement of chief priest AV Ramana Dikshitulu, removal of 30 outsourcing employees for demanding Brahmotsava Bahumanam and many violations of workers’ rights and welfare laws. 

CITU district general and TTDCEU honorary president K Murali said the regular employees’ strength in TTD was 10,000 three decades back when only 10,000 pilgrims visiting Tirumala, but the regular employees’ number dwindled to 8,000, though the pilgrims visiting the hill shrine rapidly increased to about 80,000 daily on an average. 

The TTD instead of taking up the recruitment to fill up the vacant posts resorted to appointing employees on contract and outsourcing basis, though there is dire need of regular employees because of the increase in work load, he said.

There is no security of job for the contract employees while the women employees working round-the-clock in Tirumala have no resting place and privacy to change their dress and also facing sexual harassments, he alleged.

Many local prominent persons like social activist Bhuman, SITI Cable managing director Rajasekhar Reddy, consumer activist P Raja Reddy, TTD employees union leaders and others signed in support of the 7 demands of contract employees.