Artistes’ Forum: Artistes’ Forum Advocates Streamlining Govt Grant Norms | Hubballi News
Dharwad: Artists’ Forum in Dharwad has slammed the Kannada and Culture department for framing rigid guidelines to get grants for organising literary and cultural programmes.
Speaking to media persons in Dharwad, senior artist Prabhu Hanchinal stated that the norms are such that artistes’ troupes and organisations are finding it extremely cumbersome to obtain grants.
This has affected their activities as organisations are forced to pool their own money or seek donations.
He said, as the expenditure to hold programmes is increasing day by day, the artistes and organisers are facing a severe financial crunch.
“One has to spend a minimum of Rs one lakh to conduct a programme on a small scale. Though these programmes are organised in association with the Kannada and Culture Department, the government is sanctioning just Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000. Moreover, organisations have to wait for several months to get this money released,” he rued.
The government sanctions funds to every organisation to hold three programmes in a year and the total expenditure should be reimbursed by the government. However, this rule is not being followed and only 30 to 40% of the expense is being met by the government, he charged.
The government should be liberal in releasing funds to organisations which are striving hard to protect the culture, tradition, art and literature of the land, said Hanchinaal.
Artist Satish Turmuri said that very short deadlines have been fixed by the department to conduct events. The organisations are struggling to arrange logistics, hire artistes and arrange programmes. Hence there should not be any deadlines to hold programmes. Moreover, the funds released to the organisations should be pre-paid rather than post-paid as it would help in the systematic arrangement of programmes, he suggested.
Satish Turmuri also alleged that the department was discriminating in releasing grants to organisations. This should not happen and all organisations and artists’ forums should be treated equally, he demanded.
Speaking to media persons in Dharwad, senior artist Prabhu Hanchinal stated that the norms are such that artistes’ troupes and organisations are finding it extremely cumbersome to obtain grants.
This has affected their activities as organisations are forced to pool their own money or seek donations.
He said, as the expenditure to hold programmes is increasing day by day, the artistes and organisers are facing a severe financial crunch.
“One has to spend a minimum of Rs one lakh to conduct a programme on a small scale. Though these programmes are organised in association with the Kannada and Culture Department, the government is sanctioning just Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000. Moreover, organisations have to wait for several months to get this money released,” he rued.
The government sanctions funds to every organisation to hold three programmes in a year and the total expenditure should be reimbursed by the government. However, this rule is not being followed and only 30 to 40% of the expense is being met by the government, he charged.
The government should be liberal in releasing funds to organisations which are striving hard to protect the culture, tradition, art and literature of the land, said Hanchinaal.
Artist Satish Turmuri said that very short deadlines have been fixed by the department to conduct events. The organisations are struggling to arrange logistics, hire artistes and arrange programmes. Hence there should not be any deadlines to hold programmes. Moreover, the funds released to the organisations should be pre-paid rather than post-paid as it would help in the systematic arrangement of programmes, he suggested.
Satish Turmuri also alleged that the department was discriminating in releasing grants to organisations. This should not happen and all organisations and artists’ forums should be treated equally, he demanded.