Naidu’s remarks on reducing permanent TTD jobs create flutter in Tirupati

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Srivari Sevaks is a term coined by the TTD for volunteers who perform various duties during their visit to Tirumala. | Photo Credit: File photo

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s recent remark on the need to curtail permanent employment in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and give preference to volunteers for pilgrim-related services has caused a flutter in Tirupati, which has a predominantly temple-dependent economy.

While workers engaged by the TTD on contract and outsourcing basis, and hoping to secure permanent employment, have been left red-faced by the observation, ruling party leaders have also been taken aback by the statement, which came ahead of the ensuing local body elections.

During his recent visit to the Tirumala temple, Mr. Naidu reportedly advised the TTD to reduce its permanent staff and utilise the services of voluntary activists, or Srivari Sevaks.

Srivari Sevaks is a term coined by the TTD for volunteers who agree to perform various duties during their visit to Tirumala, including regulating queue lines, tying garlands and distributing food to devotees waiting in the queues.

TTD’s former chairman and YSR Congress Party’s undivided Chittoor district unit president Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, who was the first to react to the statement, criticised it, saying that it reflected a lack of understanding of the TTD’s functioning.

“Mr. Naidu aspires to stay permanently as the State’s Chief Minister, but does not want permanent jobs in the TTD. In fact, the TTD is a major source of employment for the district, which lacks development on the industrial and services fronts,” he said in a press statement issued here on Friday.

Mr. Reddy also said the YSR Congress Party, if voted to power in 2029, would fill the vacant posts in the TTD and provide 75% reservation to locals.

Meanwhile, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) State vice-president Kandarapu Murali termed the Chief Minister’s statement “objectionable”, saying that it undermined the efforts of TTD employees.

“We are not against the TTD roping in volunteers, but their services can never be treated as an alternative to the role of permanent employees,” he said at a press conference.

Taking exception to Mr. Naidu’s statement that half of the TTD’s earnings were being spent on wages and salaries, Mr. Murali cited the TTD’s 2025-26 budget to contend that the salaries component was ₹1,773.75 crore against a total budget of ₹5,258.68 crore, accounting for 34%.

“This 34% also includes the limited wages paid to contract, outsourcing and temporary staff and cannot be called salaries,” he said.

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