Mysore/Mysuru: Karnataka Janapada Academy Chairperson Manjamma Jogathi said that pension  dues of folk artistes will be released shortly. Speaking to presspersons recently in city, Manjamma Jogathi said Kannada and Culture Minister V. Sunil Kumar, who has a special affection for arts, has promised to release funds for payment of pension dues. 

Pointing out that a list of folk artistes whose monthly pension is  pending has been submitted to Kannada and Culture Department, she said that the Academy had proposed to hold an All India Women’s Convention on Folk  Arts and train about 300 transgenders. But it did not come through due to COVID crisis, she said and added that the Academy hopes to organise the same in the near future. 

Contending that Minister Sunil Kumar has ordered Udupi’s trademark ‘Daivaraadhane’ custom be brought under Janapada form of art, she said that the Minister has also directed the officials to send a list of eligible artistes to the Department for considering them for pension.