Round-the-clock free food distribution begins

 The Travancore Devaswom Board has launched round-the-clock free food distribution to pilgrims at the multi-storey Annadanam complex at Malikappuram. 
Free food being distributed to pilgrims at the TDB’s annadanam complex at Sabarimala on Saturday | Shaji Vettipuram
Free food being distributed to pilgrims at the TDB’s annadanam complex at Sabarimala on Saturday | Shaji Vettipuram

SABARIMALA: The Travancore Devaswom Board has launched round-the-clock free food distribution to pilgrims at the multi-storey Annadanam complex at Malikappuram. With a total area of 30,000 sq ft on the ground floor of the building complex, the food distribution centre has a capacity to accommodate 5,000 pilgrims at a time. The cellar of the building with an area of 15,000 sq ft is being used for preparing food.

The delay in completion of the building complex, particularly the food distribution area, is causing problems for the preparation and transportation of cooked food items to the distribution area and supply of food items to pilgrims. Shortage of an adequate number of volunteers for the distribution of food items to pilgrims, especially during lunch time, is a problem before the authorities concerned.

As against the required number of 400 volunteers, with three shifts of eight hours each, the manpower available for the distribution stands at 150, a shortage of 200 volunteers.Assistant devaswom executive officer A Babu, who oversees the free food distribution, said the deployment of an additional 200 volunteers would be needed to ensure the smooth distribution of food items round-the-clock. The problems connected with transportation of food items from the kitchen was another cause of worry for the distribution of food items, he said.

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