A specific allocation in the State Budget this year, under the head of culture, has kicked up a storm in theatre circles in the State over the past two days.
The allocation of ₹25 lakh to the Lokadharmi permanent drama theatre in Ernakulam has been questioned by NATAK (Network of Artistic Theatre Activists Kerala), a collective of theatre activists, who have now written to the Finance Minister T.M.Thomas Isaac expressing their displeasure at one theatre group being awarded funds in successive years, rather than having a comprehensive plan for the entire theatre scene.
Lokadharmi’s Natakaveedu, a home for theatre, at Nayarambalam on Vypeen island, has received a budget allocation of ₹25 lakh.
Speaking to The Hindu , NATAK’s General Secretary J.Shailaja questioned the merit of awarding funds to one group, while ignoring the others.
Several groups
“There are several groups across the State who struggle for daily existence, yet manage to bring on stage quality material without support from anywhere.
Wouldn’t it have been great had the government divided these funds among all such groups and nurtured their work?
No social auditing happens at present over the funds allocated like this,” says Ms.Shailaja.
She contrasted this to recent fund cuts to various State-organised cultural events following the unprecedented floods that hit the State last year.
Shoestring budget
“The State government had announced that it does not have funds to run any of the major cultural events. Even the recent International Theatre Festival of Kerala in Thrissur was held on a shoestring budget, which reflected on the event too. But, after the floods, theatre activists across the State got together to contribute in efforts to rebuild in whatever way we can.
Various district committees of NATAK had contributed to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund and also collected and supplied relief materials.
Before the flood, we had planned to submit a memorandum to the government on the issues of lack of infrastructure and financial problems.
But, we did not go ahead with it after the flood destruction.
We did not expect the government to allocate much to culture this year. In that context, this allocation to a specific group is problematic,” she says.
For Nataka Academy
In addition to the allocation for the theatre group, the budget has also set aside ₹5 crore for the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy.
