Nita Ambani donates Rs 1 crore to Hyderabad’s Balkampet Yellamma temple for daily food scheme

Donation aims at supporting the temple’s daily Nitya Anna Dana scheme. The interest from a fixed deposit will fund daily meals served to devotees, with expanded service planned post-donation

Hyderabad: Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Ambani has donated Rs 1 crore to the Goddess Renuka Yellamma temple at Balkampet in the city for the ‘Nitya Anna Dana scheme’ for devotees.

In-charge executive officer of Balkampet temple, Mahender Goud, confirmed the donation and said, “She transferred the amount to the temple’s bank account directly on June 13.”

This donation would be used on the interest earned through the fixed deposit for the Nitya Anna Dana scheme, which the temple offers as ‘Anna Prasadam’ to devotees daily. Currently, the Anna Prasadam is offered to 150-200 devotees on regular days and 500-600 devotees on Fridays.

“After receiving the Rs 1-crore donation from Nita Ambani, we plan to increase the number from 150 to 300 on normal days and 600 to 1,000 on Fridays. Soon, a decision will be taken after a discussion with the temple trust,” said the EO.

Describing Ambani as an ardent devotee of the city’s famous Balkampet Yellamma temple, he said she visits the temple whenever in the city and, recently, her mother, Purnima, offered prayers here in April.