TDB prepare separate budget for Sabarimala pilgrimage

Thiruvananthapuram: In a move aimed at controlling expenditure and preventing revenue leakage, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to introduce a separate budget for the annual pilgrimage at Sabarimala, board president K Jayakumar said on Monday.

After a board meeting, Jayakumar told reporters that the dedicated budget would enable the board to streamline financial management during the pilgrimage season and facilitate prompt clarification of accounts once the season concluded. An audit of income and expenditure will be conducted immediately after the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival, and a report will be prepared, he added.


The separate budget for the festival is being prepared with the objective of tightening financial oversight, reducing unnecessary expenditure, and enhancing revenue mobilisation, Jayakumar said.

TDB has also decided to strengthen sanitation measures during the pilgrimage season. A detailed sanitation protocol will be prepared in consultation with the Suchitwa Mission and subject experts, with the aim of making Sabarimala completely plastic-free.

New guidelines will be introduced for the auctioning of shops operating during the pilgrimage period. Health certificates will be made mandatory for workers, while provisions ensuring wiring and fire safety will be incorporated into contract agreements.

Jayakumar said the revised provisions would make both the board and contractors equally responsible for compliance. All contract conditions related to Sabarimala will be reviewed and updated. A modern tendering system on the lines of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) model will be adopted to improve transparency and efficiency.

He added that the pilgrimage office at Pamba will be ready by Vishu in preparation for the upcoming Mandala-Makaravilakku festival. Special meetings of the board will also be held at the new office. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !