Artistes say they are struggling to survive, seek govt help

Aurangabad. March 20:

For the second year in a row, covid has proved to be a double whammy for the already-struggling artists and musicians, who say it has wreaked havoc on their livelihood by forcing them to sit idle in their homes. As all public events are banned, the artists are now struggling to earn their daily bread. Folk artists in particular have to bear the brunt.

There are about four thousand artists and musicians in the city. It includes singers, musicians, dancers and technicians. The artists have been struggling to get work since March last year due to a lockdown. However, their financial crisis continues this year as well as the corona crisis persists. The orchestra work came to a standstill as wedding ceremonies were banned. There are 20 big orchestras in the city that employees around 400 artists that specially perform during the wedding season. Folk artists who present Jagran-Gondhal are also upset. In rural areas, there is a demand for folk artists for Kalgi-Tura, Tamasha, Lavni, Bharud and Jagran-Gondhal. However, no such events are being permitted in rural areas. The artists said that it is clear that the program will not be held this year as the covid spread increases. Hence many artists have gone to the villages to work in fields. Meanwhile, their difficulties have been exacerbated as the state government has not paid regular pension to the elderly artists. The three-months pension is stagnant. Receiving a regular monthly pension can alleviate some of the problems, the artists said.

State government must provide help

The district administration has closed public events due to the corona outbreak. Cultural programs are presented in Jayanti Utsav, yatra, annual fairs, festivals and religious ceremonies. We have at least 30 to 40 programmes every year. The artists earn around Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 in these four months in normal conditions. Our orchestra has 15 artists. But as all events were cancelled, they have no work. Now they are depending on ration provided in fair-price shops. The state government needs to provide financial assistance to the artists said, Nitin Lohare, singer.