Even as the district administration is boasting of launching online facility inviting the cultural troupes to enrol, here comes a flak from the artistes.
In addition to the continued demand for hike in honorarium, the artistes have found online system a tough nut to crack. “Being illiterates, how can we surf the net to apply online?, the artistes question,
At a press meet here on Saturday, president of Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Mandya Jillegala Janapada Kalavidarugala Okkuta and Sri Gouri Shankara Nandidhwaja L Mahadevappa said that the artistes’ are not paid on par with their performances at the procession. The present pay is Rs 500 which should be increased to at least to Rs 1,000 from this year.
The pay given would be of little help to meet the requirements of the day, leave apart using it for any other purpose.
He claimed that their sideshows keep the audience arrested along with the ‘jambo savari’. Explaining the travails faced by them during the celebrations, he said that almost all would arrive in groups from rural areas renting cabs instead of public transport.
He said that the participating artistes are also deprived of food arrangement from the organisers. He alleged that the renumeration of artistes of other states has touched lakhs, while the natives remain neglected.
President of Goravara Kunitha Kala Thanda Puttamallegowda stated that even water for the artistes along the procession is unavailable, as there were no proper arrangements. “Our thirst has to be quenched by water bottle extended by public.”
He elaborated on their hard work behind successful traditional, cultural enactments. Even after reaching Bannimantap, the artistes are not allowed to watch the famous torch light parade.
“We are ill-treated in every aspect, leave alone discrimination in honorarium.”
He said that they had staged protests in previous years urging the authorities to fulfil demands, but has reaped no results. “Officials and ministers assure to solve the problem next year, which never arrives for them.”
He urged authorities to be watchful of irregularities that happen during Dasara festivities. Secretary of the union and president of Sri Abhinava Veerabhadreshwara Nruthya Thanda Kiralu Mahesh briefed that most of the artistes were illiterates and the new directions by Dasara Committee to fill applications online has turned out to be a hard nut to crack for them.
President of Sri Male Mahadeshwara Kamsale Yuvaka Thanda Revanna and others were present.
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