Kerala - Alappuzha   

TDB not welfare-minded, says Sudhakaran

ALAPPUZHA: Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran has slammed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for not taking up social welfare activities on the lines of the Guruvayur and Malabar Devaswom boards.

He was speaking after the inauguration of distribution of financial assistance to temples under the Guruvayur Devaswom Board at the Aravukadu Devi temple, near Ambalappuzha, here on Sunday.

Mr. Sudhakaran said the TDB had assets to the tune of Rs.600 crore, all of which were deposited with private banks. When the government suggested that these assets be used to establish hospitals, educational institutions and shelter homes, members of the TDB accused the government of meddling in their affairs.

If the government had powers to restructure the TDB completely, it will be a better administrative body, he said. All the controversies surrounding the TDB will end with such a restructuring exercise. However, certain vested interests benefiting from the corrupt practices are playing their cards to prevent the government from taking any such step, he said.

The Guruvayur Devaswom Board and the Malabar Devaswom Board are functioning without many hassles because the government has a say in their affairs. The Guruvayur Devaswom Board has agreed to establish a college in Alappuzha offering courses that are the need of the hour, Mr. Sudhakaran said.

Speaking at a review meeting of relief works in rain-hit Kuttanad at the District Collectorate later, Mr. Sudhakaran said the Civil Supplies Department should ensure payment of paddy prices to farmers on the spot after procurement of the crop. The practice was to make the payment after a couple of months. But steps should be taken to disburse the payment on the spot or at the least within two days, he said.

C.S. Sujatha and K.S. Manoj, MPs; C.K. Sadashivan and Thomas Chandy, MLAs; and District Collector V.K. Balakrishnan were present.

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