— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

NO ACTIVITY: The office of the special unit set up for Survarna Karnataka celebrations

BANGALORE: The delay in appointing a Minister for Kannada and Culture is likely to affect preparations for the "Suvarna Karnataka" celebrations later this year. The Department of Kannada and Culture has not had a Minister with independent charge since the last Legislative Assembly elections in April 2004.

The suggestion to organise the Suvarna Karnataka celebrations to mark 50 years of the formation of the State was made nearly four years ago by then Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, who also held the Finance portfolio. In his 2002-03 budget speech, Mr. Krishna, who is Maharashtra Governor, announced the Government's decision to celebrate Suvarna Karnataka on a grand scale. He emphasised the need for organising meaningful programmes that would bring out the cultural ethos of the State.

Following the decision to organise a yearlong cultural extravaganza from November 1, 2006 to November 30, 2007, Mr. Krishna's Government constituted a Cabinet subcommittee under the chairmanship of A.B. Maalakaraddy, then Minister for Medical Education, on December 9, 2003 to work out the details of the celebrations.

The Government, at the time, constituted a committee of officials to review preparations. Programmes were chalked out and a plan for rejuvenating those already launched, such as Kalagrama, made. It was planned to construct Kannada Bhavans in border areas, publish 100 books and launch a website that reflected the achievements of the State in various spheres.

After the Legislative Assembly elections, the coalition government led by N. Dharam Singh planned a few more programmes and decided to establish a special unit for the Suvarna Karnataka celebrations, with special staff, to monitor preparations for event by the Directorate of Kannada and Culture.

In an effort to counter criticism that the Government has ignored the cause of Kannada and culture, and that the Department of Kannada has lost its sense of direction in the absence of an independent Minister for Kannada and Culture, the Government released special funds for the celebrations. It made arrangements to publish Brihat Karnataka in three volumes covering the history of the State.

The coalition of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular), the Dharam Singh government's successor, released special funds for all 10 academies last month.

However, a scrutiny of the programmes envisaged and the timing of the release of funds reveals bungling by bureaucrats. For instance, Rs. 5 lakh was released to all 10 academies on March 15, and they were expected to utilise the funds in only two weeks, by March 31. The special unit established for monitoring preparations for Suvarna Karnataka has not been given facilities.

(To be concluded)

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