The Hindu : Karnataka News : The sammelan that is waiting to happen

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Friday, Nov 26, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka

The sammelan that is waiting to happen

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

Bangalore: The demand for holding the second chapter of the Vishwa Kannada Sammelan in Belgaum is growing. The first sammelan was held in Mysore in 1984. Since 2006, there has been an unfulfilled demand to hold the event.

The sammelan was a much-publicised mega event under the Suvarana Karnataka programme envisaged on the occasion of the golden jubilee year of the State's reorganisation. It was first scheduled to be held in Belgaum from February 23 to 25, 2007. But the Government decided to defer it in the light of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award.

The idea of holding the event under the Suvarna Karnataka programme was first proposed by the S.M. Krishna Government in 2003-04. In 2006, the Government had constituted various committees to look into its feasibility, appointing the Department of Kannada and Culture as the nodal agency for holding the event.

After widespread consultations, the department finalised a comprehensive action plan prepared by the nodal agency.

The plan included the beautification of Belgaum city, an exhibition for showcasing the developments of the State in the past 50 years, folk, sports and film festivals, cultural programmes and seminars on various aspects of the State focussing on its future. The department had allocated Rs. 10 crore in its preliminary action plan for the purpose. But the event was deferred in the light of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award.

Short notice

Later, the BJP Government decided to hold the event in February 2009 and instructed the department to make fresh preparations.

Although the department had felt that it would require at least six month's time, it had made initial efforts to organise the event despite the short notice.

The Secretary and the Director of the Department of Kannada and Culture had even visited Belgaum for the purpose.

But the Government has maintained silence on the event for over a year.

The issue has surfaced again as the Cabinet had recently decided to hold the event in February 2011.

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