The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Friday decided to offer honorarium (on the lines of piece-rate system) to barber volunteers working at its Kalyanakatta.
The decision is aimed at minimising disparity among staff members at the Kalyanakatta. The TTD was recently flooded with complaints of corruption at the Kalyanakatta. To spin fast bucks, the staff had allegedly resorted to corrupt practices unmindful of the damage they were doing to the image of the institution.
In its initial reaction, the TTD replaced all senior officials attached to the centre, besides resolving to utilise the services of Kalyhanakatta Sevakulu (volunteers). TTD Executive Officer Dr. D. Sambasiva Rao said the decision on offering honorarium was in accordance with the principle of ‘Equal Work and Equal Pay’.
The volunteers render the same kind of services as regular barbers (who are heftily paid) do. Further, the move will forestall volunteers, majority of them from poor financial background, from falling prey corrupt practices, he added. Volunteers who have been offering services in the past two years stand to benefit. The new system will come into force on April 1. “For better results, the TTD is mulling the option of setting up separate queues for women and children at the centre,” Dr. Rao added.
