All-women team overseeing Mahankali Temple Bonalu

Secunderabad: It is 9 a.m. in the morning on a Thursday. The Ujjaini Mahankali temple, executive officer is as busy as a bee as she settles into her chair. Where are the files she asks her subordinates as she simultaneously flips through several papers and gives instructions before she heads off to the secretariat. She is a woman in a hurry as there are several events lined up such as skambari Alankarana, mini jatara, ghatotsavam.  “The crowds would be huge and we need to see that all get prasadam and there are no mishaps,” she says.    

In the meanwhile, another woman officer, DCP Sumati is leaving no stone unturned as she is busy preparing a plan of action to avoid any untoward incident and is closing all loose ends. Lakhs visit the temple and crowd management is one of the biggest challenges. If crowd management is a task, providing water, parking space, uninterrupted power, sanitation are equally important and is being taken care by Sailaja, deputy commissioner, GHMC, North Zone and local corporator A Aruna Srinivas Goud ensures drainage system and proper roads.  

Dr Padmaja DMHO officer has the responsibility of seeing that the devotees are given first aid on time and two ambulances, para medical staff, doctors, emergency medical kit are being readied well in advance. A primary medical camp will be set up in front of Mahankali Police station and the children also be given drops. Rajaiah, a resident of Mahankali Street said, “This is interesting that the festivities are going to be overseen by all women officers.” 

BY K B Ramesh