Govt owes Virasat Rs 75 lakhs: REACH

By PRABEER SIKDAR
DEHRADUN, 31 July: The title of the Shakespearean romantic comedy – Much Ado About Nothing – sums up the current relationship between Rural Entrepreneurship for Art & Cultural Heritage (REACH), which annually organises a fortnight long national level cultural extravaganza under its Virasat series in October, and the state government.
The government, which had signed an MoU with REACH, twice, promising to pay a sum of Rs 35 lakhs every year to the latter, has backtracked from its promise. The government now owes Rs 70 lakhs to REACH, the organisation responsible for bringing together a number of local artistes in the state as well as from outside every year in October.
As per the initial MoU signed by the state government with REACH in 2006, the former was to be paid a sum of Rs 35 lakhs, four months in advance of the fest. “The government kept its promise in the first year,” said RK Singh, Secretary, REACH, pointing out that all artistes performing in Virasat are compensated as per their prevailing market rates.
Interestingly, after the government failed to clear REACH’s dues in 2007, again in October, 2008, a revised MoU was signed between the two. This time, the then Tourism Minister of the State Prakash Pant, promised to settle the dues on a priority basis. “As per the revised agreement, the money to be paid was to be split: 50% of the money to be paid six months in advance and the rest after the fest,” informs Singh, ruing that the second MoU had also come a cropper.
Even after the government had backtracked from its promises, Virasat went on ahead. “But for ONGC and AYUSH, Virasat could not have happened,” explains Singh, pointing out that during the 2008 fest, it even carried the logo of the government.
Ironically, despite the government’s tall claims about preservation of art and culture in the state, no budgetary provisions were made for the development of art and culture. “Virasat, presently, is the biggest festival in the state, where artistes from remote areas of the state get opportunities to display their art and craft,” said Singh, adding that more than 600 local performers participate in the Virasat festival every year.
“It’s a pan Indian event, which has even found a place under Incredible India campaign of the Union Tourism Ministry,” added Singh, while appealing to the government to extend financial support to the fest, which can be showcased even to international tourists giving a boost to the state’s tourism resources.
Meanwhile, the finance crunch at REACH is now having a spill over effect on REACH’s popular five-day theatre festival, which is scheduled to be held at the AMN Ghosh auditorium from 7 August. Last year’s fest, which was sponsored by ONGC and Graphic Era University, saw the likes of Nadeera Babber, whose play ‘Sandhya Chaya’ was hugely applauded.
“If money had not been a problem, this year for the annual REACH Theatre Fest starting 7 August, I would have preferred to invite artistes like KM Paincker, Ratan Thiyam, Nasseer-Ratna and Shabana Azmi-Farooq,” discloses Singh.
For REACH’s financial woes, a part of the blame also lies in its free-for-all-show concept. Since the beginning, REACH has not tried to sell tickets for its theatre shows. “Putting a price on the ticket is on our minds, but it is not going to happen this year,” said Singh, pointing out that the concept was well established in the West.
“I remember watching the play To Kill a Mockingbird on a $25 ticket.”However, according to Singh, they would put a donation box this time to collect funds for the promotion of art and culture at the venue of the Theatre Fest.
Criticism against REACH
Brushing aside the hue and cry in some sections about the REACH ‘policy’ of ignoring local talent over others at its annual Theatre Fest, Singh clarified, “Those who don’t read classics, can never think of Tolstoy.”
“What we at REACH have been doing at Theatre Fest is exposing people to the best in the arts. And, on this account, government should also come forward and help us financially to make this possible every time.”
Singh said that in their Virasat series, all got platforms including non-city based artistes. “For the promotion of local art, REACH has already documented some of the folk arts like Chakravhyu, Gandhari, etc., of this state.”
Unlike REACH’s Virasat series, its Theatre Fest is solely funded through private contributions, which too, according to Singh, have dried up. “We have approached 23 institutions for help, but got no response.”
Recently, REACH set up a separate entity for film lovers by the name of REACH Talkies. “Although at Virasat, we have a film section every year, we wanted to have a separate Film Club,” said Dr Achintya Pal, founder Secretary of REACH Talkies. The nascent film club would showcase award winning classics ie 52 movies (once a week) at KDMPIE Auditorium for an annual membership of Rs 500.
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