Mysore/Mysuru: District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal regretted  that with the State Government giving little grants to it, the Kannada and Culture department had no funds to pay honorarium to poor artistes at the District and Taluk levels.

He was speaking at the ‘Sugama Sangeetha’ programme organised by Sri Mounesh Music and Cultural Trust in association with Kannada and Culture department, Bengaluru at Nadabarhma Sangeetha Sabha on JLB road here recently.

Pointing out that he will visit Singapore,Japan and other Asian countries for taking part in cultural programmes there, Gopal said that he is often feels that the music performances there are very much similar to the tones of Karnatak music. As such, Karnatak music has earned global appreciation, he said.

“In foreign countries, artistes who involve themselves in Arts,Literature,Music,Dance and other forms of Art are given a good honorarium. But in our country, the situation is quite different, he said adding in a disappointing note that this is how the Government is respecting our rich arts and culture. He lauded the Trust for organising a Sugama Sangeetha concert in memory of senior singers Madikeri Nagendra and C. Ashwath.

Senior artist Indrani Anantaramu was felicitated on the occasion. Retired Forest Officer Nagaraj, Social worker K. Raghuram Vajpayee, Sri Mounesh Music and Cultural Trust’s Umapathy and others were present.