The state conference of the Yoga Kshema Sabha began at the Adisankara Nagar (Ayodhya auditorium) here on Friday.
While inaugurating the three-day conference, Union Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal commended the role of the Sabha in following the social reforms initiated by V T Bhattathirippad and EMS in the Namboodiri community. He said the social reforms introduced by the early reformers had done a great service to the progress of the entire society.
The union minister said that the traditional priests performing ‘Santhi’ at temples under devaswoms were being treated as last-grade employees and that they were entitled to be considered first-grade employees. He stressed the need to bring about a change in the system.
The conference began with state president of the Sabha Akkeeraman Kalidasan Namboodirippad hoisting the flag. Thekkiniyedath Padmanabhan Unni Namboodiri performed the Ganapathi Homam.