Kalamandira in city lacks funds for maintenance: Dr. M.D. Sudarshan

Mysore/Mysuru: Expressing disappointment that the Department lacks fund for proper maintenance of the city’s Kalamandira, Kannada and Culture Department Assistant Director Dr. M.D. Sudarshan said that the Department was facing problems even for disbursing salaries of technical employees.

He was speaking at the valedictory of Sanchalana Youth Theatre Training Camp organised by Sanchalana Mysuru, in association with Kannada and Culture Department, at Mini Theatre (Kirurangamandira) in Kalamandira premises here recently.

Pointing out that he came to Mysuru on June 21 after being transferred from Hassan, Dr. Sudarshan said, what he first did was to understand the financial management here.

Maintaining that Kalamandira was facing a severe cash crunch, he said that he has brought this to the notice of higher ups in the Department. Subsequently, the Government sanctioned Rs. 68.5 lakh for taking up civil works and Rs. 46.75 lakh for Sound & Light equipment repairs, he said.

Contending that his predecessors had not fixed a scientific rent for organisation of programmes at Kalamandira, Dr. Sudarshan opined that the appointment of excess staff has proved to be a financial burden. Stating that Kalamandira received a monthly electricity bill of Rs. 87,000 during COVID pandemic when no programmes took place, he wondered how this had happened.

Recalling his service in Hassan, Dr. Sudarshan said that Hassan Kalamandira faced difficulties in collecting a monthly rent of Rs. 5 lakh. This was brought to the notice of the Government.

Later, Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa’s play ‘Parva’ was enacted at the Kalamandira and subsequently, the earnings exceeded Rs. 8 lakh, he said adding that he still holds additional charge of Hassan too.

Continuing, Dr. Sudarshan said that the Government has released Rs. 1.15 crore for repair of leaking roof of Mysuru Rangayana and repair of Sound & Light system. He appealed theatre lovers to join hands with the Department for development of the Kirurangamandira.

Rangayana Director Addanda C. Cariappa, in his address, said that only electricity bill is issued for Kalamandira, Kirurangamandira and Rangayana, as all the three are in one premises.

Maintaining that failure on the part of Kalamandira to pay electricity bills on time, will also have an impact on Rangayana, he said that Rangayana felt the effect a few months ago, when Rangayana staff staged a dharna in front of the concerned Minister’s house at Bengaluru. Subsequently, the Minister sanctioned Rs. 5.5 lakh grant, which was used for clearing power bills, he said.

Everyone concerned should raise their voice for proper and regular maintenance of Kalamandira and Kirurangamandira, he added.

Sanchalana Mysuru’s Deepak Mysore, Playwright Usha Narasimhan, Theatre Director Jeevankumar B. Heggodu, and others were present. Sanchalana staged ‘Kanchugannadi’ play.