The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham (ABASS) will launch its free food distribution to pilgrims near Malikapuram Temple from Monday. Travancore Devaswom Board member V Subhash will inaugurate the distribution at 10 am.
ABASS national president Thennala Balakrishna Pillai will preside over the function. General secretary N Velayudhan Nair will be present.
Delay in Allotment of Annadanam Hall
ABASS vice-president D Vijayakumar said that the distribution was delayed owing to the negative attitude of TDB top officials. The ABASS was refused permission for holding annadanam during the 2010-11 pilgrimage season without any solid reason, he said.
He said that the ABASS distributed free food to around 70,000 pilgrims during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.
He questioned the grounds on which the TDB authorities refused permission to the ABASS during the previous season.
Vijayakumar said that the former Chief Secretary and chief Devaswom commissioner favour the free food facility at Malikapuram Temple, which has lesser space than the Annadanam auditorium.
“For the purpose of denying the use of the Annadanam auditorium on baseless reasons, the Devaswom authorities used the hall for keeping stock of aravana prasadam," he said.
Succumbing to the pressure of the High Court and pilgrims, the TDB authorities has sanctioned the free food distribution for 15 days. Further plans will be made after that, Vijayakumar said.