Karnataka - Bangalore   

No cultural festivals, awards for now

Bangalore: Major cultural festivals, presentation of all major cultural awards, and long-pending implementation of book policy, cultural policy and cinema policy will not be a reality in the near future — certainly not till February — according to sources in the Government.

The Government, at a meeting of officials recently, reportedly instructed them not to hold programmes that would cost the Government more and keep the implementation of all new programmes and policies that are either announced or on the anvil in abeyance, as the Government’s primary concern is to address flood-related issues on priority. Following the instructions and “want of directions with clarity in the absence of an independent Minister for Culture”, the portfolio of which is now held by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, the majority of the academies and authorities such as the Kannada Development Authority and the Kannada Book Authority have either deferred or cancelled some of their major programmes.

Interestingly, while the Yakshagana Academy is yet to get office space and prepare its annual action plan even a year after its constitution, many academies have reportedly stopped convening their routine meetings as there is nothing to deliberate upon. The Government has deferred the selection and presentation of Rajyotsava awards and Kanaka Sri Award, postponed the prestigious Hampi Utsav and the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the coronation of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar, scheduled to be held in November, citing the flood situation.

But it is yet to convince the people on what grounds the presentation of many awards such as Dana Chintamani, Santa Shishunala, Shantala Natya, Janapada Sri, Jakanachari, Dr. Gubbi Veeranna, Kanaka-Purandara and Varnashilpi Venkatappa awards has been deferred for over two years.

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