A circular issued by Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) Commissioner N. Vasu triggered a row on Sunday, with a section accusing it as an attempt to post women on duty in Sabarimala and its precincts.
A circular issued by the Devaswom Commissioner on October 5 in response to a query from a deputy commissioner said that women employees from employment exchanges could be posted on special duty for Mandalam, Makaravilakku and monthly pujas.
This was construed as a move to post women on duty in concurrence with the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala.
Existing practice
When contacted, Mr. Vasu said that five or six women would be posted in Pampa to prevent women from moving to the hill shrine.
This had been the practice for the past so many years, the Devaswom Commissioner said.
When a deputy commissioner pointed out that there was a shortage of regular women employees, he said that those from employment exchanges could be posted for the purpose as in the previous years.
Misleading
“This circular is a routine one and has nothing to do with the Supreme Court verdict on women’s entry. Non-issues are being blown out of proportion by vested interests to foment trouble and mislead the public,” Mr. Vasu said.
