In a fairly radical step the Travancore Devaswom (Temple) Recruitment Board broke the tradition and has appointed people from Dalit, backward communities as priests. The board released a list of 62 candidates and 36 shortlisted people are from Dalit and backward communities, reported CNN-News18.
The candidates were selected after interviews and necessary tests and for the first time appointment is being done on the basis of reservation norms. The selected candidates will be appointed in temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The Travancore Devaswom (Temple) Recruitment Board has led the way for social inclusion in Kerala as it shortlisted 36 people from Dalit and backward communities as temple priests.
The instructions had been given by Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran asking the board to comply with the merit list and reservation norms, said an official statement.
“Earlier, we had some priests from backward communities who made it to the list through merit. The demand for reservation for Dalits has been persisting for several decades. Previous attempts to meet the demand had faced stiff resistance from certain quarters. But now we have made it a reality,’’ said Board chairman Rajagopalan Nair.