Intermediaries have been pushed out of Sabarimala, will introduce guidelines for sponsorship, says K Jayakumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travancore Devaswom Board president K. Jayakumar has said that intermediaries have been pushed out of Sabarimala to a significant extent, and that a clear message has been sent that such middlemen are not welcome at the hill shrine. He made the remarks during an interview on Straight Line, a programme aired on Kaumudy TV.

Jayakumar said there is no need for intermediaries between devotees and Lord Ayyappa. Citing an example, he said that during the Makaravilakku season, 125 rooms at Sannidhanam were allotted to ordinary devotees. Earlier, intermediaries and agencies had taken control of these rooms and sold them for amounts as high as Rs 1.5 lakh. These rooms are now being made available to common devotees for Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000.

“We have been able to control the misuse of Devaswom Board facilities by intermediaries to a certain extent,” he said. Jayakumar also said irregularities had been noticed in rooms allotted to donors and that steps would be taken to reclaim such rooms.

“My approach at Sabarimala is different. I will not allow any intermediary here. A clear message has been sent that it will no longer be easy for those who assume authority that does not traditionally exist at Sabarimala and collect money in their own places,” the Devaswom Board president said.

Jayakumar also said that guidelines are being prepared for sponsorships. “Sponsorships will be accepted only for building construction or other specific needs of the Devaswom Board, and sponsors will be directly approached. Proper agreements will be drawn up, and the process will be handled transparently. Only sponsors with a clear identity and who pay income tax will be accepted,” he said.