Online volunteer bookings at TTD secure and transparent: EO

 TIRUPATI: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) explained that the online system for devotees to register themselves as volunteers for Srivari Seva has brought in transparency in these services. Further, more devotees are getting the opportunity to offer free voluntary services, TTD executive officer (EO) A.V. Dharma Reddy pointed out on Friday. Responding to devotees during the "Dial your TTD EO" live phone-in program held at Annamaiah Bhavan in Tirumala, he explained that they made booking of volunteers online, as the offline system was being misused by some individuals to collect money from sevaks offering free volunteer services. The TTD EO took 35 calls of pilgrims from across the country.

Some callers complained that online bookings are getting completed quickly. Hence, TTD should also start an offline system of letting people volunteer their services for Lord Venkateswara. Dharma Reddy maintained that the online application process is secure and cannot be hacked for illegal bookings.

Regarding accommodation, he informed devotees that TTD has renovated 6,000 cottages at a cost of ₹120 crore during the last four years.

 Repairs at Sapthagiri will be undertaken soon. In terms of quotas for senior citizens, he said they need to obtain SSD tokens or SED tickets.

 Srivari Sevaks would assist them during the darshan. As for devotional movies on Sundays on SVBC, the EO maintained that the channel for now is focusing on pravachanams from epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavat and Puranas. These have gained immense popularity among Srivari devotees worldwide. A caller from Karnataka requested that information on darshan timings and Arjita sevas be provided in Kannada also. The EO agreed to the request. Other subjects that came up during the programme related to free bus facilities, tonsuring and lucky dip tickets. Ends/RS