The government will ensure representation of women in the Travancore Devaswom Board this year, Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar has said.
Women representation in the board has been the Devaswom’s precedence since 1952 and the UDF Government will not alter it, he said. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting convened to review the facilities being arranged ahead of the commencement of Sabarimala pilgrim season, at Erumely on Saturday.
“We will initiate strict steps to implement the prevailing necessity, resolving all the complaints. In the meantime, the government will move ahead with the Devaswom ordinance. The decision to bring the ordinance was taken after discussions among the UDF leaders. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has already made it clear that there would not be any change in the proposed ordinance,” the minister said.
He also dismissed the reports of the criticism being raised by UDF MLAs against the ordinance. “All the members of the Legislative Assembly will have a chance to raise their demands on reservation in the Assembly, he said.