Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday announced that he would allocate an additional Rs. 5 crore in the current fiscal to the Karnataka State Folklore University for infrastructure development.
He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the academic and administrative buildings, the amphitheatre and residential quarters built on the university campus at Gotagodi in Shiggaon Taluk of Haveri district.
The CM’s announcement came after Vice Chancellor Ambalike Hiriyanna highlighted the need for funds, which was subsequently supported by all the speakers on stage, including Higher Education Minister R.V. Deshpande, District in-charge Minister H.S. Mahadev Prasad and BJP State president Pralhad Joshi.
Announcing that he would allocate more funds in the next financial year, the Chief Minister asked the Vice Chancellor to take all necessary steps to meet the requirements for bringing the university under the UGC net. He said that the government would extend required assistance and requested Mr. Joshi to chip in to help the university to get the UGC funds.
Describing Karnataka as a treasure trove of folklore, Mr. Siddaramaiah went down memory lane recalling how his initial schooling began with lessons in folk arts like pooja kunita and nandi kunita.
Earlier Mr. Deshpande and Mr. Prasad and other speakers highlighted the need for preserving folk traditions and passing it on to the next generation.
