Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has announced that the financial aid being given to 24 professional drama companies in the State will soon be increased to Rs five lakh per company every year, and Rs 1,000 monthly honorarium being given to senior theatre artistes will also be increased in the next budget.

Speaking after presenting the Karnataka Nataka Academy awards for the years 2011-12 and 2012-13 at R N Shetty Kalyan Mantap here on Saturday, Shettar said that Rs 50 lakh will also be sanctioned for the construction of a hall in memory of noted theatre artiste N Basavaraj at Gudageri, after a trust in this regard is formed.

Meanwhile, the Town Hall in Hubli will be renovated or reconstructed, and would be named after N Basavaraj. The Government has increased the grants being given to the academies and Kannada and Culture Department, and is giving due importance to art, culture and theatre activities which are facing a threat from television, Shettar added.

Kannada and Culture Minister Govind Karjol highlighted the need to increase the financial aid being given to drama companies, and the monthly honorarium of senior theatre artistes.

“Our government is giving Rs 50 lakh each to all 12 academies in the State every year,” he said.

Hubli-Dharwad Mayor Pandurang Patil, MP Prahlad Joshi, Academy chairperson Malati Sudhir, Chief Minister’s Parliamentary Secretary Shankar Patil Munenakoppa, MLAs Veerabhadrappa Halaharavi, Chandrakanth Bellad, S I Chikkanagoudar, Seema Masuthi, MLCs Veeranna Mattikatti, Mohan Limbikai, Shilpa Jagadish Shettar, and others were present.

Awards were presented to 35 theatre personalities, and financial aid to 10 drama material suppliers in rural areas were also distributed on the occasion. Earlier, a colourful procession, including folk troupes, was taken out from Chennamma Circle.