Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced that a special health care scheme would be launched for the theatre artistes aged about 65 years. Similarly, the monthly pension for the artistes would be increased to Rs. 1,500 and the amount would be disbursed at the doorstep of the beneficiaries.
Addressing the prize distribution function of the ‘Nandi Natakotsavalu’ for the years 2013 and 2014 at Subrahmanya Maidanam here, Mr. Naidu said that the Telugu Desam Party was committed to the uplift of the theatre and welfare of the artistes and technicians. “We are planning to set up an institute for drama on the lines of the National School of Drama in Rajahmundry. Finding out a suitable site is a major problem here and we are looking into the option of using the forest land for the purpose,” he said.
Mr. Naidu launched the official website of the Andhra Pradesh State Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation www.apsftvtdc.in and announced an ex gratia of Rs. 3 lakh to the family members of T. Vani Bala, a theatre artiste, who died due to heat wave in her return journey after performing in the competition. Rajahmundry MP M. Murali Mohan presided over the meeting, in which Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Ministers Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, N. China Rajappa, P. Raghunath Reddy, K. Narayana and Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, MLAs and officials were present.
The historic play that spread the message of the global peace has won four ‘Nandi’ awards, including the best play, best script, best director and best actor awards during ‘Nandi Natakotsavalu’ for the year 2013. ‘Desamunu Preminchumanna,’ a verse play produced by the Kakinada-based The Young Men’s Happy Club is the only play that won four ‘first best’ Nandi awards.
