Installation of Closed Circuit (CC) cameras in dormitories of women devotees at C.V. Reddi Charities, which is being maintained by Sri Durga Malleswara Swamivarla Devasthanam, led to a furore on Monday.
A marriage party that booked the women dormitory observed the CC cameras were installed there. They entered into a heated argument with the temple staff saying the women devotees were unable to change their clothes due to the cameras.
The temple employees told the agitating devotees that the cameras were not functioning. The surveillance cameras were installed as part of security measures. There was no recording facility in AC dormitory as it was not being used regularly. Toilets were constructed for each dormitory, they said.
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Safety measures
The Kanaka Durga temple authorities asserted that the cameras were installed for the safety and security of the devotees. “Also, the dormitories are not a place to change clothes. They are meant for taking rest. The cameras in the dormitories would be removed shortly as the devotees expressed objection,” said Temple Executive Engineer D. Bhaskar in a statement.
The devotees should remember that the signboards, both in English and Telugu, were put up cautioning the devotees that the dormitories were under CC cameras surveillance. The cameras were installed at all key places in the temples. The dormitories are common place like Mahamandapam, he added.
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The temple constructed dormitories at C.V. Reddi Charities with a view to provide accommodation to the devotees. About 100 to 150 people can stay in four big dormitory halls.