Tractors to replace donkeys at Sabarimala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A meeting headed by Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar has decided to stop the plight of donkeys at Sabarimala. Donkeys have been used for transporting goods from Pampa to the famous Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. Now, tractors will replace donkeys from next season onwards.

The donkeys are brought to Kerala all the way from Tamil Nadu by unscrupulous and monstrously callous contractors who supply jaggery, rice and other items to the temple.

Heavy loads are tied onto the backs of these donkeys with the use of thick, heavy rope.  These donkeys, despite their hard toil in the service of unworthy and cruel humans, have no shelter.  When not working, they roam around the hills.  When they are too sick and feeble to work, they are abandoned in the Sabarimala forests to be killed by predators.