DOLES TO THEATRE GROUPS

DOLES TO THEATRE GROUPS

         One of our foremost theatre personalities, Shri Bratya Basu who also happens to be the state Education Minister, yesterday announced from the Writers’ Building that 100 theatre groups from different districts would be doled out an amount of  ` 35,000/- each. This benefit, as announced, would be given to those groups who are under financial constraints. For such groups who are finding it difficult to meet both ends, this will be a one-time grant. Subsequently other groups would get the assistance in the following years. This project of the government surely would demand kudos from one and all. But there is a Catch 22 situation it seems to comprehend the announcement, as previous such doles to infuse financial stability to clubs had made the intention of the government for such projects suspect.

        The process of selection of the groups to be given this financial help has not been announced and, at least according to reports in the press, the state Natya Akademi seems to know nothing of this project, let alone the selection and the procedure of distribution of the money. Basu said that advertisements regarding this was released in press and those who had applied would be given this assistance. But the question that comes to one’s mind is in which press was this advertisement published? And on what basis were these applications made? Was this done based on announcements notified by the Akademi last year? There was one which asked groups to submit applications for productions that would help to project the different social and other programmes taken up by the government; and another where artistes who are financially weak were invited to apply for help.

         With the Panchayet elections in the offing people would naturally question the timing of the announcement of such a project, and more so as the beneficiary groups are all from the ‘fringe areas’, that is if spelt out means regions that fall under different Panchayets. Such questions may seem a ‘tirade’ against any ‘benevolent ‘project the government takes up. No the intention of this blogger is not to prick the air out of any such balloons that soar up to brighten up the sky above us that had gathered some gloomy clouds of despair since long.

         These State grants to groups were once in practice but the LF government had discontinued it for quite many years. The Central government has been granting quite handsome assistance to groups and this increased a few folds on the occasion of the Tagore celebrations. But not all groups are lucky to get this help.  Monthly salaries have also been initiated. Though the sum is meagre and is given to senior distinguished persons, they are certainly stamps of recognitions to personalities who have spent their entire lives for the sake of theatre.

          Let us hope this initiative of the State government would help the groups to work out productions that would enrich the Bengal theatre world.