Tirupati Times
TIRUPATI, INDIA, October 24, 2005: Despite strong criticism from some religious quarters, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) that administers the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near here has finally decided to give green signal to the controversial issue of women barbers involvement, for the first time in the history, at the sacred tonsure center on the hills. Revealing the decisions of TTD Board meeting to the media persons on the hills this afternoon, TTD Board Chairman, Dr.T.Subbirami Reddy said that the women barbers would render their services only on contract basis and not as permanent employees. It may be recalled that the TTD Board had taken the radical decision to recruit women barbers for its tonsure in April last. But, the TTD had to rethink over its move, as the issue had become a controversy after a few religious personalities expressed reservations against the decision to recruit women barbers at the very ancient hill temple of Lord Venkateswara.