Welfare fund for folk artistes

Paraddi was speaking at a state-level seminar on ‘Present day folk art,’ organised by the Academy in association with the Department of Kannada Studies of the post-graduate centre of Kuvempu University and the Government First Grade Centre on Tuesday.

“If artistes fall ill or suffer an accident, financial help will be extended to them. The State government has provided Rs 25 lakh for the purpose. With assistance from multinational companies and city corporations, a deposit of Rs one crore is expected to be collected for the welfare fund,” Paraddi said.

He said the issue of giving monthly pension to 1,600 folk artistes, which was pending for four years, had been resolved and artistes would now get pension.

Paraddi said the Academy was preparing a folk dictionary in association with the Kannada Development Authority and one volume of the dictionary was ready for release.

Five fellowships of Rs one lakh have been started this year for students who have taken up research in folk art. Scholars from different parts of the State will take part in the mega folk convention to be held from April 23 to 25, Paraddi said.