The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Chitrakala parishath functionary sore over dwindling govt. grants

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 27, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Chitrakala parishath functionary sore over dwindling govt. grants

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, DEC. 26. Is the Government doing enough to encourage creativity in the State? The Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath does not think so.

On Sunday, at its annual "chitra santhe" (art fair), the parishath secretary, D.K. Chowta, said the parishath organised the event on its own.

"We had requested the Government to give us Rs. 10 lakhs but so far we have not got anything," he said.

He told presspersons that so far the parishath has spent Rs. 5 lakhs on the event.

"We don't charge the participants anything.

And we have provided food and accommodation to artists from outstation.

Of course, we have had corporate sponsors. Our patrons have chipped in," he said.

The "chitra santhe" was parishath's contribution to the art world, he said.

Mr. Chowta said the Government has been reducing its grant to the parishath every year.

"Last year, we got Rs. 9 lakhs while the year before we got Rs. 20 lakhs," he said.

Annual costs of running the art school, maintaining the various art galleries and so on came to Rs. 1.5 crores.

Mr. Chowta invited the Maharashtra Governor, S.M. Krishna, to be the chief guest at the "santhe" on Sunday.

Asked if Mr. Krishna, a past president of the parishath, promised any help, Mr. Chowta said a meeting of the parishath trust will soon be held.

"Our new trust president, B.L. Shankar, who is a former chairman of the Legislative Council, has many plans," he added.

Mr. Krishna spent about half an hour at the "chitra santhe".

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