Negative attitude of TDB affects pilgrims

SABARIMALA: The negative attitude of the Travancore Devaswom Board in providing basic facilities, including allotting hall, for the voluntary organisations engaged in free food distribution at Sannidhanam, is affecting lakhs of pilgrims.The voluntary organisations such as the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham (ABASS) and the Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS), which had distributed free food to 50,000 and 30,000 pilgrims daily respectively during the past pilgrimage season, were denied halls this season citing frivolous reasons.The ABASS free food distribution facility near Malikappuram temple, which was famous for the round-the-clock service to pilgrims during the peak Makaravilakku days, was evicted in the name of setting up of prasadam sales counters.The intriguing fact is that only one-fourth of the ground floor of the two-storeyed building, which was allotted to ABASS for annadanam distribution, is utilised for the purpose.The first floor of the same building is lying vacant till date. The TDB refused the SASS annadanam centre of the last season at Pandithavalam for providing open space for witnessing Makarajyothi darsan.However, the TDB decision was a flawed one as the slope of the land is towards the western side whereas the Makarajyothi, is seen on the eastern hills of Sabarimala. The negative attitude of the TDB towards the voluntary organisations has become more visible with the condition of asking a donation of Rs 1 lakh and deposit for the conduct of free food distribution. The worst part of the free food distribution at Sannidhanam is that the TDB is ill-equipped to provide food to the pilgrims.  The alleged internal bickering in the TDB had stalled the smooth functioning of the free food distribution at Sannidhanam.If immediate measures are not taken to restore the facility of the ABASS and SASS, majority of pilgrims, who depend on free food facility, will either has to go without food or fall victims to unscrupulous hoteliers.