Bhumana takes charge as TTD Trust Board chairman, vows to bring back people-centric programmes

TIRUMALA: Tirupati legislator Bhumana Karunakar Reddy took charge as Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) 53rd Trust Board Chairman on Thursday.

He was administered the oath of office by Executive Officer Dharma Reddy in the presence of ‘Garudalwar’ at ‘Bangaru Vakili’. After taking charge, Bhumana Karunakar Reddy had the darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara along with his family members.

He said that he would concentrate more on providing a comfortable darshan for the common man. “VIPs who seek special treatment must remember that one must crave for almighty God’s glance on us, not the other way around. It is not important how long you are in the presence of God,” he pointed out.

He thanked Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for appointing him as the TTD Board Chairman. "I whole-heartedly thank Lord Venkateswara who blessed me twice to be the Chief of the world-renowned Hindu Religious Institution of Tirumala Tirupati Devathanams. In fact, I only own the privilege of being appointed as the Chairman of TTD during the tenure of former CM of united AP late Sri YS Rajasekhar Reddy and now in his son's regime as CM of AP to Chair the TTD Board. Even in the previous board I was the special invitee for four years. I thank the Almighty for showering His benign blessings upon to sanctify in His devout service", he maintained.

Recalling his earlier tenure as TTD Trust Board Chairman in 2004, Bhumana said that he introduced programmes such as ‘Dalita Govindam’, free distribution of ‘anna prasadam’, ‘Punnami Garuda Seva’ and ‘Kalyanamasthu’ ,training to SC, ST, BC and fishermen communities in priesthood, hike in the salaries of temple priests, Dharma Rathams, Chaturyuga Bandham, installation of 108 feet statue of Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya at Tallpaka on the occasion of the 600th birth anniversary of the Saint Poet, launch of Shravanam Project, Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel, establishment of Sri Venkateswara Vedic University, installation of the bronze statues of the Trinity of TTD Sadhusubrahmanya Sastry, Rallapalli Ananta Krishnamacharyulu, Veturi Prabhakara Sastry.

"TTD has been successfully executing all these pilgrim-friendly activities in a big way in the last a few years with the support of the mandarins and a dedicated strong workforce. The CM has allotted 435 acres of land towards the allotment of house sites to TTD employees and on priority it will be taken up soon", he added.

Ministers Roja and Ambati Rambabu were also present at the oath-taking ceremony.