Blowing the trumpet for pending bills: Artistes demand unpaid wages for performances at government events
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Artistes staging a protest at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad on Thursday. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
Ravi Kumar from Amberpet in Hyderabad has seen Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy up close several times over the past three years. He has also performed for Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It would be almost impossible, or simply bland, if people like Kumar did not turn up in their best attire, blow the trumpet, play the rhythmic dappu, or perform Gussadi. Whether it is Independence Day, a VIP visit, a State function, or an anniversary event, their absence would not make it welcoming. But behind the rhythm and spectacle captured in photographs, newspapers and the social media are the wages the State government owes them.
For Kumar, the wages for his performance two years ago have still not been paid. The accumulated amount owed to him is about ₹30,000. And there are several thousand workers across the State like him.
On Thursday, the State Department of Language & Culture witnessed a vibrant atmosphere, with artistes blowing trumpets and beating dappu, some performing janapadas, and Gussadi performers swaying in their headgear made of peacock feathers. But this was a protest demonstration in their own way, until the department’s director, Anugu Narsimha Reddy, stepped out to interrupt their performance and speak with them.
According to Mr. Reddy, the total bills owed to the artistes amount to ₹11.91 crore. All the bills have been uploaded, and the Pay & Accounts Office too has passed them. The release of funds by the Finance Department is now pending.
“These are not huge amounts, but many of the bills range from ₹20,000 to ₹30,000. The issue has been consistently taken up in all meetings, and we are hoping the funds will be released by the end of this month,” he said.
For Ravi Kumar and some 50 other protesters, however, the delay has been discouraging. They say artistes are giving up their traditional art forms and taking up local businesses for their livelihood, such as selling vegetables and vending coconuts, and even daily-wage work.
“₹11.91 crore is a very small issue for the government, but for us it is a big problem. They are not understanding it. Many artistes are discouraged from performing further, and some are performing only to collect the dues. This is very sad,” Kumar said.
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