Rss arm gets contract for annadanam

Thiruvananthapuram: The reported decision of Travancore Devaswom Board to grant the contract for Annadanam at Nilakkal and Pamba to RSS-affiliate Ayyappa Seva Samajam has kicked up a row. The Samajam was in the forefront of Save Sabarimala agitation.

The TDB took the decision notwithstanding 2016 High Court directive against handing over annadanam to private organisations.

Many believe that the TDB decision is part of the strategy to molify Sangh Parivar outfits which are up in arms against the government on the Sabarimala issue. With lack of funds for Annadanam, the TDB at its meeting on Tuesday decided to hand over Annadanam contract to Bengaluru-headquartered Ayyappa Seva Samajam.

The seva samajam will be responsible for bringng food to annadanam pandals in Nialakkal and Pamba. TDB president A. Padmakumar, however, rejected the allegations. He told news channels that the TDB had taken a lawful decision after holding discussoins. “We only accept donatoins for annadanam. We are not conducting annadanam on contract basis. No annadanam that is not under our authority, control and monitoring is allowed here,” he said.

“We are starting annadanam in Nilakkal from Saturday. More facilities are needed in Pamba,” said a Samajam office-bearer.