The 81st Kannada Sahitya Sammelan is going to be historic in terms of money being pumped into organising it. The total expenditure for the event is expected to cross Rs. 7 crore, the highest spend in any sammelan. The expenditure at the last sammelan held at Madikeri was Rs. 3.31 crore.
The Kannada Sahitya Parishat has estimated that it will cost Rs. 4.6 crore, barring food. Jain Mutt of Shravanabelagola is spending about Rs. 2.5 crore towards food for all participants for the four days, including January 31, when a procession will be taken out. Farmers of Channarayapatna have been contributing coconuts, vegetables, milk products and foodgrains to the mutt. The temporary structures — main stage, parallel stage, dining halls, book stalls, media centre and toilets — are being built at a cost of Rs. 1.7 crore. Another Rs.18 lakh has already been spent for levelling the ground. Lakhs of rupees will go towards inviting guests and artistes to the event.
People are now questioning why so much money should be spent for the event. Many feel the parishat should review how the event is to be held. Vijay Kumar, a resident of Hassan, said Kannada would survive for long only when Kannada schools are strengthened. “The sammelan is an event where people gather, purchase books, listen to speakers and go away. The results of such a mega event are hardly measured. The government could have strengthened hundreds of schools by utilising the amount being spent on the event,” he said.
