Artistes protest over honorarium

They were protesting against the non-payment of honorarium to the artistes who took part in the programmes organised to mark Dr B R Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivanram Jayanthi celebrations.

The members alleged that seven art troupes had taken part in the Jayanthi celebrations. While six troupes participated in the procession and the remaining troupe presented the programme. The honorarium fixed for the participation of each troupe was not handed over.

Also nobody had any clear idea on the matter. The decision to hand over the honorarium to the artistes was taken at the preliminary meeting on the Jayanthi celebrations, they said.

When District Social Welfare Officer Sumayya Roohi arrived on the scene, she tried to convince the protesters. She assured them that the artistes will be paid their dues.

“The art troupes which took part in the procession will get a sum of Rs 15,000 as
honorarium and the art troupes which took part in the programmes, will get a sum of Rs 10,000 as honorarium. At present, an amount of Rs 4,000 was handed over. The remaining amount will be given on Monday,” the artistes told Deccan Herald.

Prakash from ‘Ee Dhare’ troupe, senior artistes Pindapapanahalli Munivenkatappa, tabla artiste Venkatesh, Gundlupete Venkatesh and several others took part in the protest.