The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 10 academies complete tenure in March

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Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

10 academies complete tenure in March

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

The Governor has the powers to reconstitute them
It will be a daunting task to avoid controversies

BANGALORE: Academic activities, barring routine programmes, in all the 10 academies and the Kannada Book Authority will come to a stand still from April. All the academies will complete their tenure in the third week of March.

The Department of Kannada and Culture will send a proposal, either a week before or after the completion of the tenure of these bodies, to the Government seeking their reconstitution. The department has proposed, in the pre-budget discussion, many new programmes and schemes next financial year. But they cannot be substitutes for the programmes of the autonomous cultural bodies, according to sources in the department.

The appointment of chairpersons and members to all the 10 academies such as Sahitya, Nataka, Lalitakala, Shilpa, Sangita-Nritya, Urdu, Kodava, Konkani, Tulu and Janapada-Yakshagana were made in March 2005. The Kannada Book Authority was reconstituted in 2004. All the 10 academies have got an annual grant of Rs. 23 lakh and commensurate additional financial assistance for deserving projects. In the absence of an elected Government, the Governor can reconstitute the academies and the KBA. But the fate of the reconstituted bodies will remain uncertain once the elected government takes the reins of administration. However, the respective registrars and staff of these academies would be vested with the responsibilities of holding routine programmes. But they are not expected to constitute committees for the selection of awards, initiate special publications, organise seminars and workshops in the respective faculties in the absence of nominated subject experts, sources said.

Reconstituting the academies and authorities without giving room for controversy has been a daunting task even for an elected Government. For instance, the N. Dharam Singh Government had repeatedly promised that it would appoint chairpersons and members to the academies “shortly.” But the appointments were made only after an inordinate delay. The reconstitution of 10 academies and KBA was effected only on March 24, 2005 although it had been pending since June 16, 2004. The Kannada Development Authority was formed in June 2006.

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