The State government will spend less on this year’s Dasara festivities owing to drought and farm suicides and the authorities here have been asked to restrict the expenditure to less than Rs. 4 crore.
The 10-day festivities would begin on October 14 atop Chamundi Hills and a progressive farmer would be invited to inaugurate the celebrations, said Minister in-charge of Mysuru district V. Srinivas Prasad.
Speaking to presspersons here after holding a meeting to discuss preparations for the festivities, he said a farmer would be invited as the chief guest even for the function scheduled to be held in the evening where a musician would be conferred the State award. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would attend both the functions.
The Minister said cultural events would be held for eight days at the palace and only local artistes would be invited to participate. The palace illumination would be restricted for two hours from 7 p.m.
The dates for extending formal invitations to Governor Vajubhai Vala, the Chief Minister and the members of the erstwhile royal family would be finalised soon, he said.
Mr. Prasad said the Dasara grant, which used to be between Rs. 12 crore and Rs. 16 crore, had been cut in view of the low-key nature of the festivities.
The Minister said a decision had been taken to constitute eight Dasara sub-committees consisting of non-officials. The Department of Information and Public Relations had been asked to take up low-scale publicity. In reply to a question, Mr. Prasad said Dasara Nada Kusti (traditional wrestling) competitions would be continued as usual and they would be held for eight days.
This year, tableaux from only 20 departments would be part of Jamboo Savari. Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation and the Department of Water Resources had been asked to focus on save energy and save water concepts, respectively, in their tableaux, he said.
The problems faced by farmers would dominate Raitha Dasara and alternative farming methods would be discussed prominently by experts. Water conservation guidance and cropping pattern too would be discussed besides steps to instil confidence among farmers to against resorting to the extreme step.
Mr. Prasad said literature would be printed and distributed among farmers besides giving opportunity for them to share their views instead of making them listen to speeches by elected representatives. Minister for Cooperation H.S. Mahadeva Prasad, and Tanveer Sait and M.K. Somashekar, MLAs, were present.
