Having unsuccessfully tried to end malpractices in the sale of darshan and laddu tickets and other malpractices by employees, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the Lord Venkateshwara temple, the richest Hindu shrine, has now set up a toll-free number for pilgrims to report graft by temple staff.
This is the first such facility created by any temple in the country.
TTD executive officer K.V. Ramanachary told callers during a “Dial your EO” programme, an interactive programme aimed at improving the services in the temple, that pilgrims could call the toll free number (18004254141) anytime to make complaints on corruption or any other malpractices taking place at the temple. The callers’ identities will be kept secret.
Ramanachary, an IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, said of late, there had been a steady increase in the number of complaints from pilgrims. “The best way the pilgrims can help the TTD administration to check these unholy practices is to report the matter to the TTD Vigilance Wing or to the Anti-Corruption Bureau,” he said.
He also appealed to devotees not to pay bribes to TTD staff when they approached pilgrims saying: “Mee Santosham Koddi Evvandi” (Give according to your pleasure).