EO Anil Kumar Singhal lauds services of Annaprasadam wing

Tirumala: Complimenting the impeccable services of the Annaprasadam wing of TTD, the Executive Officer (EO) Anil Kumar Singhal said every year lakhs of pilgrims are being served with free and delicious food, beverages and milk in a hygienic manner. Ayudha Puja was performed in a grand manner in Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Annaprasadam Complex (MTVAC) in Tirumala on Friday. 

Speaking to the media, the EO said that the TTD had launched Nityannaprasadam in the year 1985 on April 6 with just 2,000 pilgrims at the behest of the then Chief Minister NT Rama Rao with an aim of providing free good to the devotees visiting Tirumala. 

Later in 1994, Annadanam Trust was formed and on April 1 in 2014 the trust was renamed as Sri Venkateswara Annaprasadam Trust (SVAT) to carry on the service of providing free food on a large-scale covering select places also in Tirupati down the hills. The SVAT is one among the 9 trusts formed by TTD to expand its social service activities in various fields including health, education and culture.

Annaprasadam Trust has now a fixed deposit of Rs 1026 crore which is highest amount than any other trusts. EO further said, every day, nearly 1.5 lakh pilgrims are served free food while 2 lakh in the week ends. During peak days like Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Rathasapthami, Garuda Seva almost four lakh servings are done. All the staffs are working day and night to cope with the requirement from the multitude of visiting pilgrims. 

The EO also said “every day 10-12 tonnes of rice and 6-7 tonnes of vegetables are being consumed for the preparation of food and beverages in Annaprasadam wing. The day by day expectations from pilgrims are reaching high and the department is also doing its best to meet the expectations. I wish them to continue to work with the same spirit in future too,” he maintained.

Marking the occasion, Singhal felicitated the Special Officer (Annaprasadam) Venugopal and Chief Catering Officer GLN Shastry. CV&SO Gopinath Jetti, Additional CVSO Sivakumar Reddy, Superintendent Engineer-II Ramachandra Reddy and other officials were also present.