One of the most powerful and wealthy religious institutions in the world, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the custodians of the ancient Tirumala temple, have been hit by a large number of COVID-19 cases.
The temples under the board, including the main temple of Venkateshwara on the Tirumala hill, opened to devotees on June 11. The Board had kept the temples closed for 80 days, covering the entire lockdown period.
In the last two months, however, 743 employees of the board, including priests, security and administrative staff and those involved in other duties, tested positive. The board has close to 22,000 permanent and contract employees discharging duties in Tirumala, Tirupati and other centres spread across the country. This would mean that around 3 per cent of the workforce of the TTD contracted the virus.
The revelation was made by the Executive Officer (EO) of the TTD, Anil Kumar Singhal, himself, while participating in a monthly programme that brings him in contact with the pilgrims and their suggestions and grievances.
The EO informed that of 743 employees who tested positive for COVID-19, 402 had already recovered and joined duties, while 338 are undergoing treatment in the TTD-operated COVID-19 centres. However, the official downplayed the threat posed by the virus by saying that only 3 employees had succumbed to the virus and they were providing the best treatment to all affected staff members.
"Initially everyone appreciated the move of TTD. But as soon as the cases started increasing in Tirupati, the blame was thrown on us by a section of media, social media and also by some vested persons, that we have resumed darshan only to make money.
“We are spending more money on all facilities of COVID-19 measures rather than what we are making out from pilgrims. Our only intention is to provide hassle-free darshan to pilgrims by strictly following the COVID guidelines and satisfy the devotees. So far, all the devotees expressed immense satisfaction over the arrangements of darshan, accommodation, Kalyana Katta, laddu, annaprasadam and other facilities made by TTD. They are also following the norms prescribed by TTD. The cases have not increased in Tirupati alone. The entire state as well as the country are facing a similar problem,” he said, while participating in the programme.
Despite hundreds of employees getting infected by the virus, the TTD is in no mood to close doors to the devotees.
“There is no reason why the temple should be closed. We have enough precautions in place. There are multiple testing centres at the entrance roads leading to the hill and the temple. We have thousands of PPE kits for staff members so as to protect them. Sanitisation drives are being continuously held in and around the temple,” said an official of TTD who did not wish to be quoted.
The TTD had asked its employees, especially priests, who are aged above 55 to go on a one-month paid leave. Replacing one such priest was 45-year-old Srinivasacharyulu who died a few days back after getting infected with COVID-19. He was brought on deputation to the main temple from another temple managed by the TTD board.
The TTD is firm on continuing with the regular services even as some sections of devotees and also the priests and employees are in favour of closure of the temple to the devotees.
