Five language academies based in Mangalore and Madikeri have decided to come together to lobby with the State government for more powers and funds.
To start off, the State academies of Beary, Konkani, Tulu, Are Basha and Kodava languages have demanded they be included in the planning of Karavali Utsav, to be held in the city in December, as well as given a voice in the choice of candidates for the district Rajyotsava awards to be given on November 1.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, B.A. Mohammad Hanif, president of the Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy, said the academies, except for the Kodava academy, were being allowed to participate in this year’s Karavali Utsav.
“There are a large number of Kodavas in the district. The Kodava academy should be allowed to post a representative in the planning committee too,” he said, adding that the academies should also get to have a say in the organisation of the Abbakka Utsav held in and around Ullal. The group will also demand participation – in the form of tableaux and stalls – in the Mysore and Mangalore Dasara celebrations. The academies will also organise a cultural and literary conference in the city in mid-2015.
Janaki Brahmawar, head of the Tulu Sahitya Academy, said though the opinions of the academies had been sought during the selection of awardees of the State Rajyotsava Award, the procedure should also be followed at the district level.
Though each academy is allotted around Rs. 65 lakh annually, there was a need to increase funds from the State, said Ronald Castelino, president of the Konkani Sahitya Academy. “If we get Rs. 1 crore, then we can have a better reach all over the State,” he said, adding that shortage of staff also affected their programmes. Kodava Sahitya Academy president Biddatanda S. Thammaiah said the five academies would make a list of common problems and suggestions and present it to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah soon.
