KORAPUT: It's easy to identify a 'Pala' singer from his glittering robes and ornate headgear. Accompanied by a band of four to five persons, with one on mridanga and others playing the cymbals, he sets the tone for the evening citing episodes from mythology beautifully blended into today's issues and problems. The traditional medium has served the State Government's purpose of propagating the various welfare programmes among the village folk.
Though this unique form of Orissa enjoys State Government's patronage with 80 troupes enlisted with the Directorate of Information and Public Relation Department, this small step towards saving the dying art form has not gone down well with the artistes. Hired to focus and propagate State Government's welfare programmes through 42 shows in 14 blocks of the district, they lamented the tightfisted attitude of the Government.
According to 'Pala' troupe leader Bichitrananda Behera, the support is not adequate. In 1987, the directorate had fixed `350 per programme and allocated `14700 per annum for 42 programmes, which was reduced by `700 per annum in 2008.
The current rate of ` 10,000 per annum for 42 shows boils down to ` 250 per show. "With about five artistes staging a show, the amount fails to meet even the expenses of costumes and green room," he said.
The bitterness courtesy Government's apathy is as loud as the 'Pala'. "The Government seems to be only concerned about pay hike of its employees and MLAs, while we struggle to eke out a living," he added. Most of these artistes have taken up other profession to sustain their family.