Controversy Surrounds Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust After Rot Prasad Samples Fail Testing
Hamirpur, November 19: After the laddus distributed as prasad in Tirupati Balaji, now the performance of Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust is again in the dock of discussion and questions after the failure of the samples of rot prasad offered in the famous Siddhpeeth Baba Balak Nath Temple of North India. In the month of October, the department had taken samples of rot prasad from the canteen run by the trust.
After the poor quality was revealed in the investigation, serious questions have been raised on the functioning and responsibility of the trust. Now a draft is being prepared to give this canteen on rent, in which the possibility of collusion is also being raised.
The allegations of corruption and negligence against the trust got further strength when it came to light that despite having more than 150 employees, the arrangements are in a bad state. The trust is now inclined towards outsourcing all the services, which may also include the arrangements of langar and inns.
The quality of the ISO certified langar is also under question. During the season, when the number of devotees increases, the trust’s langar proves unable to provide adequate and quality food. Even employees and officers prefer to eat in private langars instead of the trust’s langar. In the annual sale of roti prasad worth more than Rs 5 crore, the share of the canteen run by the trust is only Rs 6 lakh. At the same time, about Rs 10 lakh is spent on preparing it. This economic imbalance points to the financial irregularities of the trust.
Under the Food Safety Act, 2006, there is a provision of a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh on the manufacture or sale of spoiled food items. The administration has assured action as per rules after investigating the matter. If the system is not improved, it is clear that the anger of devotees and the public will burst out on the government and the administration. There is a growing demand for taking strict action regarding the lack of transparency and accountability in the trust’s system.
After the failure of the samples of roti made in the canteen run by the trust, once again the question of government responsibility and accountability has arisen. In the lab testing, this roti, a symbol of unwavering faith and belief, has been found unfit for human consumption. This has become an example of mismanagement of government functioning. It is worth mentioning that in the month of October, the department had taken it from the same canteen, which the trust has now prepared a draft to give on rent.
The failure of the sample of roti prasad and the draft to give this canteen on rent, both the arguments point to collusion, on which a natural investigation is necessary. The trust is trying to hand over everything to the outsourcing system so that there is no responsibility or accountability left for the army of more than 150 workers. If this canteen is also auctioned for rent, then the trust will be left with the responsibility of arranging the inns and langar. In the coming times, if the inns and langar are also handed over to outsourcing, then it will not be surprising.
This is the same langar which was ISO certified by the then Deputy Commissioner and Temple Commissioner Debasweta Banik. But now the extent of mismanagement is such that if the samples of food of this langar are taken, it will not be an exaggeration if they fail. On the other hand, if the private langar does not provide food to the devotees during the season, then the langar run by the trust will also be unable to provide food to them. The quality of food of the government langar can be estimated from the fact that during the season, thousands of employees and officers engaged in the management eat in private langar instead of the langar of the trust. Which becomes a proof that the food of the government langar is not worth eating.
The system of the trust, which is standing in the dock of controversies, conspiracies and plots, is bent on arbitrariness while constantly being accused of corruption, where no one has any control over this autocratic system. If this continues, the day is not far when the wrath of devotees and public will fall on the government for this controversial system, this is certain. According to an estimate, more than 5 crore roti prasad is sold annually in Deotsidh Nagar. Out of which, the government canteen of the trust sells roti prasad worth about 6 lakhs, which costs about 10 lakh rupees if the salary allowances for its preparation are taken into account.
At the same time, under the Food Act 206, if a person makes, stores or sells spoiled food items, then there is a provision of a fine of 5 lakhs. In this case too, action will be taken as per the rules.
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