Date:13/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/13/stories/2006031303810500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

No takers for Kannada and Culture portfolio?

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

Kumaraswamy willing to give it away to someone who will have it

A few politicians believe that holding the portfolio brings bad luck
They point to the political careers of Lalitha Naik, Leeladevi Prasad and others

The low allocation has dissuaded leaders from accepting the portfolio

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's statement that no Minister wants to be entrusted with the portfolio of Kannada and Culture has raised the question whether it is on account of the low budgetary allocation or superstition in political circles.

Addressing writers, artistes and others in Mysore recently, Mr. Kumaraswamy said no one is inclined to accept the portfolio. However, soon after taking the oath of office, he said he will retain the portfolio as celebrations of the golden jubilee of the formation of State is to be organised from November 1. Does the recent statement indicate that the Chief Minister has changed his mind and wants to hand over the responsibility to someone else?

The opinion of a few politicians about the political future of those who have held the portfolio earlier and the finances of the department is interesting.

There is a belief among a few leaders that the political career of those who handle the portfolio is certain to fail. They say Jeevaraj Alva, M.P. Prakash, H. Vishwanath, B.T. Lalitha Naik, R.N. Naik, Leeladevi R. Prasad and Rani Satish, who have served one term each as Minister for Kannada and Culture in the past two decades, suffered setbacks. Some politicians and officials believe N. Dharam Singh lost power as he held the Kannada and Culture portfolio for 20 months (though he delegated some powers to Mr. Prakash).

The financial situation of the department does not allow it to increase interaction with the public, and this is said to be another reason why it has failed to attract leaders. For the past 20 months, the Department of Kannada and Culture, which has its office in the Kannada Bhavan, has been functioning without a separate Minister to take care of it.

However, when awards for contributions to language and culture are presented, the Government and leaders derive political mileage. The portfolio of Culture has a high profile at the Centre, where scholars such as late Humayun Kabir have served as Minister. The low budgetary allocation, dissatisfaction over sponsored programmes and controversies over favouritism in selection of winners of State awards have dissuaded leaders from accepting the portfolio.

The department got an annual grant of Rs. 13 crores in 1999-2000, Rs. 16 crores in 2000-2001, Rs. 14 crores in 2001-2002, Rs. 19 crores in 2002-2003, Rs. 26 crores in 2003-2004, and Rs. 22 crores in 2004-2005. In the current financial year it, it has received Rs. 31 crores, including an additional grant of Rs. 10 crores for the Suvarna Karnataka programmes. The allocation for sponsored programmes is hardly Rs. 2 crores a year.