BENGALURU: Thumbs up for extension of F&B business hours till 1am, disappointment over the lack of emphasis on performing arts, and hopes for effective implementation of the budget’s potential...Following the Karnataka Budget 2024-25, Bengalureans speak to Dese Gowda
Extending business hours in Bengaluru until 1am is a welcome move for the city, fostering accessibility while cultivating a vibrant nightlife that puts the city on the map for tourists. Another significant announcement was the digitisation of excise services within a year. The current system is hampered by bureaucratic inefficiencies. Meanwhile, the increase in rates of Indian-made liquor and beer would be seen as a not so welcoming move. Bars face significant burdens due to the need to rent licences rather than purchasing them. The number of available licences in Bengaluru is limited, leading to intense competition among establishments for these licenses. There has been no issuance of new licences in recent years, exacerbating the issue of supply not meeting demand. Consequently, the cost of maintaining or renting a licence is rising annually since passing on the increase in prices to customers is not always business-friendly.
Miten Shah, director, The Studds
I was looking for programmes that focus on culture. As far as I can tell, some money, not a lot, has been set aside for translation works of tatva padas and folk literature. That’s a welcome initiative. I was hoping for something to do with theatre and performing arts, but what little I’ve seen so far suggests nothing of that sort. This year marks the 50th anniversary since the state was renamed Karnataka. They had actually planned a year-long programme, celebrating the language and culture. I found no mention of it in the budget. That was disappointing.
Ritwik Simha, thespian
Bengaluru doesn’t have measurable outcomes that can make it sustainable and effective. It’s disappointing not to have an outlay, output and outcome framework with timetables that we could refer to before the budget. It’s important to show fiscal federalism by not funding city projects directly and instead devolving it to an elected city corporation. The splitting of Bengaluru into smaller governing units and making seed allocations to that might be revolutionary.
Sathya Sankaran, Bicycle Mayor
The government has emphasised on all the important arenas, from education, heritage, health, women and child development, and agriculture. The success will only be guaranteed when the execution of the plan is implemented. It is crucial for the government to keep a track of the progress and results. Accepting feedback from the public and considering the needs of the majority should be of utmost significance.
Sargam Parashar, student
In a year when Indian musicians have brought pride and glory to the country at the Grammys, the arts community would have liked to see more emphasis on art and culture in the Karnataka Budget ’24. While it is good to see some grants for research into the Bhakti movement and for specific folk forms, the amounts are small. As Bengaluru and Karnataka grow in stature and importance, our cultural venues, arts institutions and artistes need support and encouragement so that the sector can thrive and contribute to the state’s soft power.
Manasi Prasad, singer
