Shilpakala awards to five sculptors

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, FEB. 4. The Karnataka Shilpakala Academy on Sunday presented awards for the year 2000 to five sculptors, Mr. Bheemarao Shankarappa Mayachari, Mr. K.Kashinath, Mr. N.S.Maligacharya, Prof. Nagesh Bheemrao Savannavarr and Mr. V.A.Deshpande. The awards carry a cash prize of Rs.10,000 each and a citation.

The Minister of State for Kannada and Culture, Ms. Rani Satish, who gave away the awards said that the Government would try to enhance the budgetary allocation to the Academy so as to encourage sculptors. She said their works not only would be for ages to come, but also help in preserving culture.

She said that to help young sculptors, the department would introduce Bal and Kishore awards in this field. And to facilitate sculptors to take up different works, it would introduce the system of tenders for sculptures and other allied fields it would take up.

Mr. Kashinath speaking on behalf of the awardees said that tourists came to India primarily to see the works of many sculptors, be it at Belur, Halebid, Hampi etc. The Government needed to support sculptors, he said.

The President of the Academy, Mr. C.Parameshwarachar, said that since the inception of the Academy five years ago it was trying to help sculptors, but was not able to take up several programmes because of paucity of funds. He hoped that the Government would enhance the budgetary allocation from Rs.8 lakhs per annum.

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