With less than a fortnight left for the Kannada Sahitya Sammelan to begin, there is hope for the long-pending cultural policy of Karnataka seeing the light of day.
According to sources, the Cabinet subcommittee, headed by Minister for Rural Develpment and Panchayat Raj H.K. Patil, constituted to study the practical issues in implementing the policy that was drafted by a six-member committee, has looked into the pros and cons and cleared all hurdles.
Phases
The announcement on implementing the policy might be made before or during the sammelan, since the Finance Department has no objections to the policy being implemented in phases.
This is also viewed as the government’s “gift” to the 60th anniversary of the unification of Karnataka and the 82nd Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelan to be held at Raichur from December 2 to 4. Incidentally, it is being chaired by writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa, who also headed the committee that formed the policy.
The cultural policy committee had submitted a 68-page report comprising of 44 recommendations in June 2014.
The policy was kept in cold storage for almost 23 months before referring it to the Cabinet subcommittee.
The plan to have a cultural policy was first envisaged during the Janata Dal government in 1996.
The committee, headed by Mr. Ramachandrappa, was formed by the Congress government in 1999.
The policy was finally submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2014.
Govt. stand
Minister for Kannada and Culture Umashree said the government was keen on implementing the policy. She had discussed the issue with Mr. Patil and he had agreed to present the subcommittee report shortly, she added.
An announcement is expected to be made before or during the sammelan
