BANGALORE: Minister for Kannada and Culture Govind M Karjol has requested Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda to increase the prize money being given to drama companies from Rs1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for their development.
Karjol was speaking at an award ceremony organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture here on Wednesday, where people who excelled in various fields like literature, music and arts were felicitated. Karjol said the state drama artistes were in a pathetic condition. “Earlier, there were 26 drama companies in the state, but now there are hardly 16. There is a need to encourage them for their survival. At present, the cash award being given to these companies is a meagre Rs 1 lakh. I am requesting the Chief Minister to increase it to Rs 5 lakh,” said Govind M Karjol adding that more fund was needed for the artistes.
CM recites poem
The CM, after felicitating and presenting the awards, recited Chennaveera Kanavi’s famous poem Hacchuve Naanu Hanatheyannu, Kattalannu Gelluvenemba Jiddininda Alla, Hanatheya Belakali Nanna Mukha Neenu, Ninna Mukha Naanu... (I am lighting up the lamp not with the intention to remove the darkness, but with that light, I can see your face and you can see
my face...).The CM said it was not politicians, or the chief minister who ruled the state, but “It is people like these who have excelled in the field of art, music and literature who are ruling our state”. He also lauded the award selection committee for selecting the most eligible people for the awards.
The T Chowdaiah Award constituted a prize money of Rs 5 lakh, other awards comprise Rs 3 lakh each.