Visakhapatnam: With elections to the 15 Legislative Assembly due to be held in April or May, the AP State Creativity and Culture Commission is likely to cancel or postpone Kala Ratna (Hamsa) and Ugadi awards along with other cultural recognitions this year.
The government felicitates distinguished people in various categories like theatre, dance, music, literature, painting, sculpture, mimicry, mime, Harikatha and Burrakatha, journalism, social work and other disciplines every year as recommended by the committee members.
By all accounts, the elections will be held during the same period as Ugadi Puraskaralu and other award functions take place in the state. The state government has not yet announced the awards and there would be no chance to do so after poll notification since it would be violation of code of conduct.
Several artistes, performers, art teachers and others from creative fields are disappointed that there would not be any state-level cultural festivals and programmes this year. They also said that the state government has failed to give due recognition to talented children.
The Union government had been offering cultural talent search scholarships for children to help them hone their talent in cultural fields, especially the rare forms of art. Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) also presents annual awards to teachers as well.
Maddala Joshnavi Devi, a Class VIII student of Kendriya Vidyalaya NAD in the city, was recently selected for CCRT scholarship in painting. She would receive Rs 12,600 a year up to her graduation. This will help the poor girl, whose father is a daily wage labourer.
Her art teacher B. Sashibhushana Rao says, “The state government should also support the young talent on these lines. The scholarships, awards and prizes would not only help students from poor financial background but also help preserve art and culture.”
According to AP Nataka Academy member Ch. Krishna Prasad, this is not the responsibility the state government alone. He said that NGOs and cultural associations should also come forward to help the youth interested in the fields of art and culture.
