HYDERABAD: ven two years after resolutions for the revival of the Telugu Sahitya Akademi, the Sangeeta Natak Akademi and the Lalitha Kala Akademi were passed at the World Telugu Conference in Tirupati and despite budgetary allocations, the proposals still remain only on paper.
After bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the two successor States can establish three academies each. “We have prepared the blue print and submitted it to the government.
The Chief Minister has to nominate chairmen for all the three academies and members too will have to be nominated,” RV Prasada Raju, Director of the Department of Culture, Telangana State, told Express.
It appears that the State government may take some time as it is a time consuming process to select chairmen and members for the three bodies. “The government is not against it. It is just a matter of time for the Chief Minister to announce,” the director clarified.
A budget of `1.5 crore was allocated for the revival of the three bodies earlier but the same wasn’t spent for a variety of reasons.
The three academies are meant for promotion of literature, music, drama, dance, painting, sculpture, art etc. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh remain the only states in the country without established academies for promotion of art and culture.
Five academies used to exist in the state of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh till about 1984 when the then chief minister NT Rama Rao abolished them.
He brought together all the academies under one umbrella, the Telugu University. NTR’s successors stuck to the same decision.
“It’s not a university’s job to conduct events, publish books and promote artists. With setting up of dedicated academies, persons with technical know how and ground knowledge will assess the artists,” Raju explained.
Facelift for Lalitha Kala Thoranam
A sum of `50 lakh sanctioned by the Government of India recently will give a much-needed facelift to the famous open air theatre at the Public Gardens. “The works have been entrusted to the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation and would start in a month,” said RV Prasada Raju, Director, Department of Culture, Telangana State. Using the funds, additional seating would be provided, CCTV cameras installed, new sound and lighting system also procured. Besides, the existing 14 artists’ rooms will be upgraded. The venue which has hosted many film festivals including last year’s international children’s film festival will soon have a digital projector for screening of films.