TIRUMALA, JAN 29    :    The Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board, chaired by Bhumana Karunakar Reddy at Annamaiah Bhavan, here on Monday, approved a budget of Rs 5,122.80 crore for the fiscal year 2024–25.

While the TTD Administration proposed a budget of Rs 5,141.74 crore for the same period, the Board gave its approval to a slightly revised figure of Rs 5,122.80 crore.

Breaking down the budget allocation, Rs 350 crores have been allotted to the engineering department, and Rs 108.50 crores have been allocated to Hindu Dharmaprachara and related projects.

Other notable allocations include Rs 113.50 crores as grants to various organisations, Rs. 50 crores as support to the state government, and grants to TTD educational institutions and various universities totaling Rs 173.31 crores. The sanitation department is allocated Rs 261.07 crores, the surveillance-security department Rs 149.99 crores, and the medical department Rs 241.07 crores.

The estimated income includes Rs 1,611 crore from Srivari Hundi gifts, Rs. 1,167 crore as interest on fixed deposits, Rs 600 crore from Prasad sales, Rs. 151.50 crore from Kalyanakatta receipts, Rs 147 crore from rooms and Kalyanamandapam rents, and Rs. 448 crore from sales of Srivari Darshan tickets and Arjita Seva tickets.

In other decisions, the wages of laddu tray carriers will see an increase of Rs 15,000, and the salaries of 51 teachers in Vedic schools have been raised from Rs 34,000 to Rs 54,000.

The TTD Board has also decided to propose the sanction of new posts for the operation of 60 temples under the auspices of TTD to the government.

Speaking to the media, Karunakar Reddy announced that a charity (Dharmika) conference would be held on February 3, 4, and 5, with 57 Peedhipathies in attendance. He emphasised that suggestions received during the conference would be considered and implemented.(UNI)