Court had suggested installation of an automatic Appam packing machine
The recent controversy over fungal infestation on Appam along with Aravana, and disposal of 1.6 lakh packets (each containing seven numbers) of Appam, incurring a loss of Rs.40 lakh, has exposed the alleged negligence of the authorities concerned in complying with the order of the Kerala High Court on March 5, 2012.
In its order, a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice C.T. Ravikumar, had directed both the Travancore Devaswom Board and the State Food Safety Commissionerate to initiate certain foolproof measures to ensure the quality of the Sabarimala prasadoms.
The court had suggested installation of an automatic Appam packing machine at the Sabarimala prasadom plant to ensure better hygiene and reduce manual labour in the packing process. Though the Special Commissioner appointed by the court, K. Babu, too had issued strict directions to the authorities concerned to implement the court directions without any fail before the beginning of the pilgrim season, the situation continued to be the same as in the previous year.
The court order said the Board and the Commissionerate should act together and scrupulously follow good hygiene practice (GHP) and good manufacturing practice (GMP) at the Appam-Aravana plant at Sabarimala.
Strict monitoring
The Bench had directed both the authorities to ensure “strict monitoring of the activity till the end of the festival season every year.’’
“Standard Sanitary Operating Procedure (SSOP) should be arranged to be done in the plant after conducting swab test for microbiology in large and small utensils, cooling chambers, filling machines, and packing machines by engaging professionals and technically qualified personnel to avoid microbial contamination. If contamination or fermentation is found, the products should not be distributed. Attempt to distribute such sub-standard products after reconditioning, repacking, or retreating should be curbed strictly at any cost,’’ the order said.
The Bench said responsible officers attached to the Board, the Commissionerate, and officials concerned at the local authority should ensure “compliance of the contents of its order in letter and spirit,’’ failing which would be treated as “neglect and negligence in carrying out the official duties.’’
Keywords: Appam row, Sabarimala prasadoms
Nobody contests the fact that around 12 lakhs appams, having been rendered unsuitable for human consumption, were destroyed at Sabarimala, the other day. The Travancore Devaswom Board and some other organizations allege that the situation was created by interested parties with an eye to spoil the pilgrimage. I do not personally find this reason genuine. Such an argument is not seen placed by the Board in the High Court which considered the issue. Another matter is that the TDB and the other groups used to raise such an excuse, every time some mishap occurs during the festival, without providing any convincing proof. No criminal group has accepted the responsibility and TDB has named none. Even if the allegation is true, its mere repetition is only an indication of the inability, on the part of the authorities concerned, to counter the threat, which they perceive.
To me, the true reasons behind such unfortunate happenings are the corruption, inefficiency and irresponsibility on the part Sabarimala Administration. Every incident is invariably inquired into but no corrective steps are taken. For example, Justice Haiharan Nair Commission which inquired into the Pulmedu tragedy, in which a hundred and two pilgrims were trampled to death, reportedly blames the State government for the incident. But the government not only never cared to identify its officers responsible for the failure or to punish them duly, but also, the same personnel involved are given the charge of the festival again. The present issue of appams would also be inquired into for names’ sake but none is likely to be punished. Incidentally, the new TDB chief, who assumed charge only recently, has said that the manufacturing and storage of the appams were managed by the previous set-up in the temple and the present Board is not accountable. Un-understandably, the government re-appointed Jayakumar, the then Chief, to rule Sabarimala once again and the High court approved the same.
I am personally ready to offer some suggestions to the Government, TDB or the High Court to, once and for all, solve some of the problems in Sabarimala, if they so desire.
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