Sabarimala Punyam Poonkavanam Project to Return as Kerala Govt Gives Clean Chit to ADGP P. Vijayan
Thiruvananthapuram: Nearly three years after it was discontinued, Punyam Poonkavanam, the Kerala Police's cleanliness project for the Sabarimala pilgrimage, is set to return. The Kerala Government has cleared P. Vijayan, Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) and former nodal officer of the project, of all allegations and has approved the revival of the initiative.
The decision comes soon after the government appointed Vijayan as the Chief Police Coordinator for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season.
According to a government order, an inquiry conducted by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) found no evidence against Vijayan. The order said all allegations made against him in an earlier inquiry report were not proved. It also said Punyam Poonkavanam should continue as it is an important community policing project of the Kerala Police at Sabarimala.
Punyam Poonkavanam was launched in 2011 to keep Sannidhanam, Pampa and nearby pilgrimage areas clean. The project was carried out with the help of devotees, the Travancore Devaswom Board and thousands of volunteers. Vijayan led the project from the beginning and was appointed its nodal officer by the Kerala High Court in 2015.
The project later came under controversy after the Kerala High Court started suo motu proceedings based on a report by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner. The report raised allegations about the collection of funds by a project coordinator at Erumeli. Following the court's directions, the then Chief Police Coordinator conducted an inquiry and submitted a report that made adverse remarks against Vijayan.
The Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Vigilance) later examined the inquiry report, official records and Vijayan's explanation. The inquiry found no evidence that Vijayan had misused his position or committed any wrongdoing.
While the inquiry was going on, the Travancore Devaswom Board started Pavithram Sabarimala, a separate cleanliness campaign run by its employees and members of the Vishuddhi Sena. This campaign took over the cleaning work after Punyam Poonkavanam was discontinued.
Before it was discontinued, Punyam Poonkavanam had grown into a major volunteer movement. It was active through 1,869 centres across five southern states and had the support of more than 10,000 volunteers. The project also received support from several prominent personalities, including the Governor of Kerala and judges of the Supreme Court and the Kerala High Court. It was recognised as a model project under the Union Government's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
With the government now giving Vijayan a clean chit and approving the project, Punyam Poonkavanam is expected to resume during the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season.