Centre accepts Bengal’s R-Day tableau proposal to highlight folk artistes
Times of India | 24 December 2024
12 Kolkata: The Bengal govt's Republic Day tableau, which the defence ministry approved over the weekend, will showcase the state's rich folk music heritage. The tableau will highlight how the state has been reviving folk music by using it in various campaigns to promote govt schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar, Kanyashree, Rupashree, Nirmal Bangla, Khadyasathi, and Sarbo Sikhsa Avijan.
The state's tableau will be at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi after two years. In 2024, the Centre rejected Bengal's proposal to highlight the Kanyashree scheme in the yearly event. The last time the state's tableau was featured in the event was in 2023 when it highlighted the Durga Puja celebration.
An official said chhau dancers and baul singers will enthral the audience. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has started using folk artistes to promote government schemes, who are also given a retainer fee, as part of the state's Lokprasar Prakalpa, the official added.
"The scheme aims to give dignity to folk artistes of Bengal. They are given a retainer fee of Rs 1,000 per month, and those over 60 years get a monthly pension of Rs 1,000. Around 1.8 lakh artistes get either a retainer fee or pension from the state govt," said the official.
These folk artistes spread awareness against social evils like dowry, child marriage, and human trafficking, besides promoting the importance of health and sanitation. "In Bengal, most folk artistes enlisted with the state govt are from Purulia, over 21,000, followed by Bankura, North Dinajpur, Jhargram, East Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad, East and West Midnapore, and Hooghly," the official added.
A committee of eminent persons from the fields of art, culture, sculpture, music, choreography and architecture reviews the tableaus proposed by the states.
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