http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Kanakadurga+authorities+reverse+decision&artid=X11riqBvR%7C4=&SectionID=e7uPP4%7CpSiw=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=EH8HilNJ2uYAot5nzqumeA==&SEO=
By Express News Service 02 Apr 2010 04:48:00 AM IST Kanakadurga authorities reverse decision VIJAYAWADA: In the wake of widespread criticism, authorities of the Sri Kanakadurga temple announced reversion to the practice of employing workers of all sections in the prasadampackaging section, and rescinded the recent decision to restrict it to Brahmins. The controversy arose when the authorities, in a prasadam tender notification, awarded the works to a contractor, Ravi Kumar, specifying clearly that he must engage workers belonging to the Brahmin community to prepare and pack laddu, pulihora and chakkera pongali and other prasadams. When the contractor asked the existing 60 workers not to come to work from April 1 onwards, there was an outcry. Apparently, it was mainly Temple Executive Officer N Vijay Kumar’s unilateral decision, and this drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum, including the ruling Congress party. The workers and some political parties organised protest programmes, but the EO defended his decision saying that the rule was introduced to maintain hygienic conditions in prasadam-making. It may be noted that these columns had reported the Potu workers’ protest at Indrakeeladri over the decision. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) secretary and BC leader Kolanukonda Sivaji brought the issue to the notice of Minister K Parthasarathi, district in-charge minister Ramachandra Reddy and Endowments Minister Gade Venkatareddy and described the plight of existing workers. The Endowments Minister reportedly called the Executive Officer and rebuked him over his unilateral decision. “The matter is very sensitive. When you want to take such a decision you should first consult the district minister and in-charge minister, besides local MLAs. How could you decide without consulting anyone of us?’’ he is said to have admonished the EO. Following verbal instructions from the minister, the temple authorities decided to drop the rule of allowing only Brahmin workers in the Potu. ------------------------------------ ---- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [email protected], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [email protected] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
