Caste discrimination in Devaswom Board: SNDP Yogam demands strong action

CHERTHALA: The SNDP Yogam director board meeting said that the removal of the person appointed by the Devaswom Board for the job of a kazhakam at the Koodalmanikyam temple on the grounds of caste discrimination should be opposed.

"The fact that the youth of the backward castes like Ezhavas are being removed when they study and enter a job through government recruitment institutions is a relic of the dark era of Kerala. The upper caste thinkers who raise objections like 'Ezhavas should not involved be in temple matters' are implementing caste discrimination itself. The government should take strong action to prevent such caste discrimination from recurring," the SNDP Yogam resolution demanded.

The meeting held at the Travancore Palace in Cherthala was presided over by President Dr. MN. Soman. General Secretary Vellappally Natesan presented the report. Vice President Thushar Vellappally, Devaswom Secretary Arayakandy Santhosh, and councilors P Sundaran, Babyram, PT Manmathan, PK Prasannan, Vipin Raj, Sandeep Pachayil, PSN Babu, and Babu Kaduthuruthy spoke. The Board of Directors honoured General Secretary Vellappally Natesan, who is completing three decades under the leadership of SNDP Yogam.