BANGALORE: Although the Directorate of Kannada and Culture, the nodal agency for the events connected with `Suvarna Karnataka,' allocated a spacious room at the Kannada Bhavan and assigned staff to monitor the programmes, it did not provide basic necessities such as furniture and a telephone.

At the behest of the Government the directorate assigned a joint director, an assistant director, a programme officer and an office manager with adequate clerical staff to monitor the programmes. Officials in the directorate and others in the Government were divided over who should bear the responsibility of setting up the special unit.

Asked to clarify the situation, Principal Secretary for Kannada and Culture Usha Ganesh told The Hindu that the Government had issued clear-cut instructions and released funds. It was the responsibility of the directorate to execute the plan, and it should have set up the full-fledged office by now, she said.

On the charge that the Government was yet to constitute committees for the event and issue concrete guidelines, Ms. Ganesh referred to a comprehensive document compiled over three years by the Government on `Suvarna Karnataka' and said several committees had been constituted and funds released.

However, many people in cultural circles and officials in the directorate maintained that the Government was yet to constitute committees. Programmes were yet to be finalised. For instance, it was pointed out, the Government was yet to conduct a preliminary field survey for the three-day Vishwa Kannada Sammelan in Belgaum.

Sources, both official and in literary circles, said the Government had not made up its mind on the list of 100 representative books to be brought out to mark the event, which was prepared and finalised by a committee appointed by the previous dispensation.

Stand not clear

It is not clear whether the present Government will agree with that list as some of the eminent writers and others in the committee are identified with the Congress or the All-India Progressive Janata Dal.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has its own views on culture and literature, which are at variance with those of the Congress or even its coalition partner, the Janata Dal (Secular).

Besides, the Government is yet to obtain permission from the writers whose books have been listed. Tenders are yet to be invited for printing.

(Concluded)

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