Date:27/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/27/stories/2005072705270500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rs. 1.25 crore released for pension to artistes, writers

Staff Reporter

Government promises to sanction funds to revive professional theatre

IN SUPPORT OF ARTISTES: (From left) `Mukhyamantri' Chandru, Srinivas G. Kappanna, Gudigeri G. Basavaraj, and Umashree at a press conference in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: The Government has released Rs. 1.25 crore for disbursing the long-pending monthly pension to 1,600 writers and artistes and widows of artistes and writers. Their names were recently included on the recommendations of the two committees appointed by it.

The Government also promised to release another Rs. 18.50 lakhs for rejuvenating 10 professional theatres pending the constitution of a three-member committee to look into the issue and suggest permanent measures. The release of the grant to the companies will be a temporary measure.

The film and theatre artistes-turned-legislators Mukhyamantri Chandru and Umasri (both MLCs) and the Chairman of the Karnataka Nataka Academy, Srinivas G. Kappanna, told presspersons here on Tuesday that the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, has permitted them to make an announcement to the effect on his behalf.

They took a delegation of professional theatre proprietors, artistes and writers to the Chief Minister on Monday. The Gubbi Veeranna Award winner Gudigeri Basavaraja and the noted artiste Chindodi Leela were also in the delegation, they added.

The Government had appointed two panels headed by the noted theatre person Master Hiranniah and the noted playwright Chandrashekhara Kambara to recommend writers/ artistes eligible for the monthly pension in 2003 and 2004 respectively. The Hirannaiah committee had recommended 882 persons and the Kambara committee 763 persons. Following this, the Department of Kannada and Culture sent two separate proposals to the Government on March 23, 2003 and February 25, 2004 seeking additional funds, as the allocated annual grant of Rs. 4 crores was inadequate to meet the new commitments. The additional fund required is estimated at Rs.1.31 crores, they explained.

"The Principal Secretary for Kannada and Culture, Usha Ganesh, is responsible for the inordinate delay in getting the grants released from the Government", they alleged and urged the Chief Minister to replace her and save the artistes, writers and others from her indifference to cultural activities and people, they said.

On the basis of a consensus arrived at a seminar on the professional theatres convened by the Nataka academy on May 1 in Bangalore, they urged the Chief Minister to announce a special grant of Rs. 18.5 lakhs for rejuvenating the professional theatres that have been serving the cause for over 25 years and facing financial constraints.

Mr. Dharam Singh has agreed to institute an annual award on the lines of the prestigious Gubbi Veeranna award for amateur theatre artistes named after renowned playwright Sriranga (Adya Rangacharya), they said.