BARIPADA: A proposal to establish an academy to promote Jhumar folk dance form in Mayurbhanj district has been gathering dust for the last five years.
A dance form of the Kudumi community here, it is practised by girls and boys of the community on special occasions and festivals. While the dance form dates back to 18th century, there has been no research on finding out how it evolved and gained popularity.
There are seven lakh Kudumi community members in the district and following their requests to revive and promote the dance form, the Union Government agreed to set up an Odisha Jhumar Academy in the district where youngsters can also be groomed.
The foundation stone for the academy was laid on September 3, 2013 at Betnoti. Subsequently, the local administration identified a patch of land of 50 decimals near the Betnoti fire station but the land has not been acquired for the institute yet.
Similarly, the administration assured a sum of Rs 80 lakh from Gramin Vikas Trust for infrastructure development of the academy. An amount of Rs 25 lakh was supposed to be provided in the first phase. Even MP Laxman Tudu and MLA Manoranjan Sethi had promised financial help but that never came.
Binapani Mohanta, a Jhumar artiste, said neither the Centre nor the State Government is interested in promoting the folk dance form unlike Chhau, which is getting both funds and government attention.
Currently, artistes practice in the open land where the foundation stone was laid. Basanta Mohanta, the State secretary of Kudumi Mahasabha, said he has been approaching the State Government for earmarking land for the Jhumar academy at Betnoti, but in vain.