Date:04/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070450690200.htm

Karnataka - Raichur

Rs. 150 crore earmarked to encourage folk arts in State

Staff Correspondent

The jatha organised by Kannada and Culture Department and district administration
‘TV, electronic media have curbed popularity of folk arts in the recent days’

INAUGURATION: MLA Syed Yasin launching Folk Arts Jatha in Raichur on Friday

Raichur: Public Works Minister and in-charge of Raichur district C.M. Udasi has said that the Government has reserved a grant of Rs. 150 crore to encourage the development of folk arts in the State.

He was speaking after inaugurating a Folk Arts Jatha for artists from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes here on Friday.

The jatha was organised by the Kannada and Culture Department here in cooperation with the district administration.

He said that the exhibition of folk arts will help society in eradicating superstition and child labour in addition to improving literacy among the rural people.

But folk arts have been affected after the introduction of TV channels and other electronic media. The people should come forward to join hands with the Government in encouraging folk arts, he said.

Chief guest MLC N. Shankarappa said that folk arts were indicators of the hoary culture of the land and it was the responsibility of everyone to encourage artists involved in the development of folk arts. MLA Pratapgouda Patil spoke.

Earlier, Raichur MLA Syed Yasin launched a jatha of folk artists on the premises of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The jatha reached the Rang Mandir after passing through the main thoroughfares of the city.

Sameer Shukla, Chief Executive Officer and in-charge Deputy Commissioner, K. Shivangouda Naik, Minister for Adult Education, Small Savings, Library and Lottery, A. Mareppa, president of the Raichur City Municipal Council, Shankargouda Harvi, Chairman of the Karnataka Khadi and Village Industries Board, T. Munirajaiah, Joint Director of the Department of Kannada and Culture, and Ayyappa Tukkai, president of the district unit of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, were present.