The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Uncertainty over restart of Janapada Jaatre

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 24, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Uncertainty over restart of Janapada Jaatre

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

Bangalore: Contrary to its repeated assurances that the popular ‘Janapada Jaatre’ will be started again shortly, the chances of the Government doing so is unlikely until January 2008 due to the expected change of guard in the State and financial constraints.

The Government has not issued orders for resuming the jaatre. It will not be a surprise if the programme is further delayed or becoming jinxed due to the possible shift in policy with the change of guard, according to sources in the Government.

The Government’s stand on the issue has deprived over 3,000 folk artistes belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the poor of financial support for the past six months. The launch of the fortnightly jaatre had provided an opportunity to each artiste of standing to earn an average of Rs. 300 and some sundry allowances in addition to travel expenses on the day of performance.

The Department of Kannada and Culture held a total of 14 jaatres, 12 at various places in Bangalore city and two in Bangalore Rural at an estimated cost of Rs. 5 crore.

But the jaatre, the brainchild of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy who held the portfolio of Kannada and Culture then and launched with much pomp and show to revive and encourage folk arts, was suddenly suspended.

Minister for Kannada and Culture H.S. Mahadeva Prasad had said that the event was stopped because of alleged irregularities and administrative lapses and due to the rainy seasons.

He reconstituted the jaatre committee and promised that the popular programme would be resumed by August-September. However, sharp differences between the managers who were responsible for the success of the jaatre and some close associates of the Minister are said to have led to the suspension of the event, in addition to the reasons the Minister cited.

Confirming that the Government had not issued any order for resuming the jaatre, a senior official in charge of Janapada Jaatre, told The Hindu that the Department of Kannada and Culture, the nodal agency for holding the event, coul d not take an independent decision on the issue.

The Government allocated Rs. 1 crore in the 2007-08 budget for holding the jaatre. As each show cost anywhere between Rs. 16 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh, the department would require substantial funds for holding the event at different places throughout the year. Restarting the event with improvements and better accountability would also need planning and time, the official said.

On whether the event would be re-launched in October as claimed by the Minister, the official said the department would make efforts to organise the event if it received an official communication to that effect.

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