The Hindu : Overwhelming response to `Pranadana' scheme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 15, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Overwhelming response to `Pranadana' scheme

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUMALA SEPT. 14. The mood in the TTD is upbeat, with donations pouring in for its newly introduced `Pranadana' scheme, which is aimed at providing financial and medical assistance to the poor, particularly belonging to the backward Rayalaseema region.

The response to the scheme is so overwhelming that the TTD till August 31, 2003, has received a whopping Rs. 30.72 crores within a span of just 14 months since its inception in the month of April last year.

With regard to the Sri Venkateswara Nitya Annadanam scheme, the brainchild of the former Chief Minister, N.T. Rama Rao, the TTD, so far, has received Rs. 80 crores (including hundred per cent matching grant by the TTD) towards the scheme. The scheme, which is aimed at providing free meals to 5,000 pilgrims visiting the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at the time of its introduction, today has reached a saturation point. Over 15,000 pilgrims are fed daily under the scheme. With the scheme catching well with the public and attaining the State of `self- sufficiency' the TTD has stopped providing match grant since a couple of years.

`e-hundi', another feather in the cap of the TTD, also introduced in the month of April last year, has received tumultuous response from devotees, particularly from those living abroad. The TTD till August 31, 2003, has received Rs. 1.62 crores towards `e-hundi' alone, apart from receiving Rs. 3.24 crores towards `on line' booking of Arjitha sevas and another Rs. 87 lakhs towards advance reservation of cottages.

The work of providing gold coating the `Aswa Vahanam' -- the celestial carrier of Lord Venkateswara -- is nearing completion and is believed to be ready by the annual Brahmotsavams slated to begin on September 27.

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Overwhelming response to `Pranadana' scheme