Thiruvananthapuram: Nearly three years after it was discontinued, Punyam Poonkavanam, the Kerala Police‘s flagship cleanliness initiative at Sabarimala, is set to make a comeback. The revival follows the Kerala Government’s decision to give a clean chit to senior IPS officer P. Vijayan, an IPS officer of 1999 batch and Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), in an inquiry into allegations related to the project.
The decision comes shortly after the State Government appointed P. Vijayan as the Chief Police Coordinator for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season, reinforcing confidence in the senior officer’s leadership.
Government Drops Allegations Against P. Vijayan
The Kerala Home Department has formally exonerated P. Vijayan of all allegations that had surfaced during an inquiry into the implementation of the Punyam Poonkavanam project.
The government accepted the explanation submitted by the senior IPS officer and concluded that there was no evidence of any irregularities in the execution of the initiative. Following this finding, the Home Department directed that the project be revived and continued during future pilgrimage seasons.
The order effectively closes the controversy that had surrounded the community policing initiative and restores one of Kerala Police’s most recognised public participation programmes.
What is Punyam Poonkavanam?
Launched in 2011, Punyam Poonkavanam was conceived as a community policing initiative aimed at maintaining cleanliness across the Sabarimala pilgrimage region.
The project covered major pilgrimage centres, including:
- Sannidhanam
- Pampa
- Nilakkal
- Erumeli
- Forest trekking routes leading to the shrine
The initiative brought together police personnel, government employees, sanitation workers, Ayyappa Seva Sangham volunteers and devotees, who worked in shifts to collect and dispose of waste generated during the annual pilgrimage season.
Workers of the Sabarimala Sanitation Society, functioning under the supervision of the district administration, also participated in the programme.
The project earned appreciation over the years for combining environmental conservation with community participation during one of India’s largest annual pilgrimages.
How the Controversy Began
The project ran into controversy after allegations surfaced that irregularities had occurred under the guise of its implementation.
The Kerala High Court Division Bench directed the then ADGP (Law & Order) M.R. Ajith Kumar, who was also serving as the Sabarimala Chief Coordinator, to investigate the allegations and submit a report.
Ajith Kumar subsequently filed a report before the High Court containing serious allegations against P. Vijayan, who had been serving as the nodal officer for the project.
Following the report, the Punyam Poonkavanam initiative was discontinued.
High Court Ordered Government-Level Inquiry
After examining the matter, the High Court directed the Kerala Government to conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations against the senior police officer.
The Home Secretary subsequently examined the case, considered P. Vijayan’s explanation, and reviewed the available records before arriving at the conclusion that no irregularities had been committed.
Based on these findings, the government issued an order granting P. Vijayan a clean chit and simultaneously approved the continuation of the Punyam Poonkavanam initiative.
Project to Return Ahead of Pilgrimage Season
The government’s decision is expected to pave the way for the return of one of Kerala Police’s most successful community engagement programmes before the forthcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season.
With P. Vijayan now serving as the Chief Police Coordinator, the revived initiative is expected to once again focus on maintaining cleanliness across key pilgrimage locations through coordinated efforts involving police personnel, volunteers, sanitation workers and devotees.
The revival also signals the government’s renewed emphasis on community participation and environmental management during the annual pilgrimage, which attracts millions of devotees from across the country.
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