The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR announces pension for Annamacharya’s descendants

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Friday, May 23, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR announces pension for Annamacharya’s descendants

Special Correspondent

All surviving descendants of the saint poet also to get Rs. 5,000 monthly pension
Tallapaka to be developed into a spiritual centre

KADAPA: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Thursday announced grant of a monthly pension of Rs. 5,000 each to 12 descendants of saint-poet Tallapaka Annamacharya, all through their life.

Speaking after unveiling the 108-foot high statue of Annamacharya at Tallapaka in Rajampet mandal, Dr. Reddy directed officials to identify all the surviving descendants of Annamacharya and said they would be given the pension as long as they lived. Stating that he was told that the descendants lacked own houses and were leading miserable lives, the Chief Minister announced that the government would construct houses for them.

Dr. Reddy also announced renaming of Rajampet rural mandal as Annamayya mandal, as a tribute to the saint-poet. Earlier, he presented silk clothes at Sri Chennakesava Swamy temple at Tallapaka and offered prayers. He also inaugurated an academic block in the Annamacharya Institute of Technological Sciences at Tallapaka.

The Chief Minister said an Annamacharya satellite township would be built for people of three to four villages around Tallapaka, at a cost of Rs. 2 crore. Referring to the TTD’s resolve to construct Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, meditation hall and a museum at Tallapaka, he directed Collector M.T. Krishna Babu to allot 10 acres for the purpose. He asked TTD Executive Officer K.V. Ramanachari to develop the Gundlur-Athirala road connecting various temples in the area. He assured that Tallapaka would be developed into a spiritual and pilgrim tourist centre.

He felicitated Penchalaiah and Suri Babu, who sculpted Annamacharya’s statue, by presenting them shawls and gold lockets.

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