The Hindu : Front Page : Pension for Annamayya’s descendants

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Friday, May 23, 2008
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Pension for Annamayya’s descendants

Special Correspondent

Divine moment: TTD priests honouring Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy with silk headgear at Tallapaka on Thursday. TTD Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy is also seen.

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

Speaking after unveiling the 108-ft. high statue of Annamacharya at Tallapaka in Rajampet mandal, Dr. Reddy directed officials to identify all the surviving descendents of Annamacharya and said they would be given the pension as long as they lived. Stating that he was told that the descendents 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 academic block in 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 district Collector M.T. Krishna Babu to allot 10 acres for the purpose. He asked the 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. Dr. Reddy released a book ‘Annamacharya Geetha Madhuri’ written by Puttaparthi Nagapadmini, daughter of eminent poet Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu. He also released a book ‘Spiritual Heritage of Annamacharya’ written by M. Narasimhachari and M.S. Ramesh, ‘Annamacharya Sankeerthana Swarnamalika’ by Director of Annamacharya Project Medasani Mohan and ‘Annamacharya Sankeerthanamrutham’ by Samudrala Lakshmanaiah.

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