Thiruvananthapuram: In a first in the history of Travancore Devaswom Board, the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board has recommended the appointment of 36 non-Brahmins including 6 Dalits as priests in temples coming under the board.

The Devaswom Recruitment Board prepared the appointment list after conducting the written test and interview.

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran has issued directions to conduct the appointments after including the merit list and reservation list. The Board has recommended the appointment of 62 priests. 26 persons from forward communities got selected as per the merit list. 36 persons from the backward community were selected. Among these, 16 persons were from the merit list.

This is the first time in the history of Travancore Devaswom Board that 6 people from the Scheduled Caste category are being appointed as priests.

The Devaswom Recruitment Board has recommended the appointment of 13 people for the post of 2nd mahout.

There are three people from the forward community in the merit list for 2nd mahout's post.