The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : 8,000 artists may get pension in 2008

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Sunday, Dec 30, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

8,000 artists may get pension in 2008

About 3,000 artists get the benefit at present
Department of Culture proposes to release the amounts in the New Year

HYDERABAD: There is cheering news for the 12,000 old artists awaiting a monthly pension of Rs.500 as the Department of Culture proposes to release the amounts in the New Year. It plans to set apart Rs.6.6 crore for this purpose, as 12,000 applications are pending. About 8,000 fresh cases are proposed to be approved in 2008, Director Kavita Prasad, told a press conference here on Saturday. About 3,000 artists now get the benefit, which was not extended last year.

Auditoria

He said covering more artists with pension payment was among several proposals submitted to the Government, including Rs.48-cr. budget for 2008. The proposals include construction of auditoria in eight districts, building an administrative office, an open-air auditorium and a rehearsal room for Ravindra Bharati and running of Hari Hara Kala Bhavan either on a lease or 50:50 payment basis with the GHMC.

The department would celebrate the 500th anniversary of Krishnadevaraya ascending throne on February 11, 2008, in coordination with the Governments of Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Karntaka. Auditoria would be built in Kadapa, Nellore, Mahabubnagar, Kurnool, Ongole, Machilipatnam, Tadipatri and Vijayawada. Construction of mini-auditoria was on in Suryapet, Karimnagar, Miryalguda, Warangal besides Hyderabad (Amberpet).The renovation of Ravindra Bharati would include putting up a 10x8 ft painting at a cost of Rs.14 lakh. Online booking of the auditorium was being facilitated along with a website. It would also have a lift costing Rs.20 lakh. Reviewing the department’s work in 2007, Mr. Prasad said 444 programmes were organised, including 52 in other States, at a cost of Rs.1.96 crore. These had benefited 10,000 artists. Two programmes—‘shatarupa’ and ‘Jashme Urdu’ had brought laurels to the State.

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