Free bus service for women to participate in Medaram Jatara: Ministers

Warangal: Endowments Minister Konda Surekha, accompanied by Panchayat Raj minister D. Anasurya Seethakka, held a review meeting with officials on the arrangements for Asia’s biggest tribal fair Sammakka and the Saralamma Jatara from February 21 to 24, at Medaram in Mulugu district on Wednesday.

The ministers said the state government would provide free bus services under the Maha Lakshmi scheme to women even during the time of Medaram Jatara.

Within 15 days of the formation of the government, the Congress party allocated Rs 75 crore for the Medaram Jatara. When a proposal was sent for sanctioning of an extra Rs 35 crore, it immediately sanctioned the funds for arrangements for the devotees, the ministers said.

Large numbers of faithful would participate in the Jatara from a month before the main event.

“There is a possibility that more than one crore devotees would attend the main four-day Jatara. Officials, in coordination with various departments, should take necessary steps for providing all kinds of facilities for the participants of the Jatara at Medaram,” Surekhar and Seethakka said.

The ministers said officials must focus attention on the maintenance of sanitation and arrange cleaning of the temple’s surroundings. “Action will be taken against officials who join hands with contractors and indulge in irregularities. Development works should be done in ways that ensure proper standards,” Seethakka stated.

Later, the ministers laid the foundation for the construction of a guest house complex for the Medaram temple priests. The project in Thadvai mandal costs Rs 1.5 crore.

Surekhar and Seethakka said tribal priests will play a key role in the Jatara. They would bring the presiding deities to the temple premises by following the rituals and performing the prayers. In the process, these priests would protect the Adivasi traditions, they stressed.

Considering their role, the state government would construct a special guest house with 10 rooms for them and it would be ready in the next two years.

District collector Ila Tripati, SP Sabharish, district forest officer Rahul Kishan Jadav, project officer of ITDA Ankith, and additional collectors P Sreeja and Venugopal were present.