TDB to raise wages of Melsanthis, Thantris

Pathanamthitta, Nov 29 (UNI) Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President C K Guptan today said steps will be taken to raise the emoluments of Melsanthis and Thantris of all temples, including Sabarimala under the jurisdiction of the Board.

Talking to reporters at ''Sannidhanam,'' he said it was decided to change the methodology being adopted for selecting the melsanthis of Sabarimala Ayyappa temple and Malikappuram Devi temple.

New guidelines would be formulated in this regard after consulting retired Kerala Gigh Court judge K Padmanabhan Nair, he added.

Precautionary measures have been taken for production and distribution of ''Appam'' prasadam hassle-free, he said adding plans were afoot to distribute ''Aravana'' in high quality tins in the near future.

Sabarimala high-power committee chairman K Jayakuamr said measures were initiated to increase the reserve stock of''Appam.'' Twenty more furnaces would be installed tomorrow and an equal number by next week, he told reporters at Sannidhanam.

Stating that more than eight lakh tins of ''Aravana''had been stocked, he said the contractor has been strictly told to ensure quality of Appam and Aravana.

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