Title - Artistes seek concession in rail, bus fares

Mussoorie:
Local television and theater artistes are demanding concession in bus and rail fares so that they could travel easily to promote the culture of the state.The artistes are also resenting the increase in the charges of Town Hall here and demanded that it be reduced by half so that plays and various cultural functions could be easily staged.Vikram Bisht, director of the Munal Lok Sanskritik Sansthan, told mediapersons in Mussoorie that the successive governments since the formation of the state had ignored artistes of theatre, television and regional films. The sanstha is involved in promoting and preserving the hill culture in Lucknow and Dehradun.Bisht said some artistes had left their profession and some were contemplating leaving it due to the lackadaisical approach of the successive state governments.

He added that the state government had so far done nothing to improve their condition and had indulged in lip service only.

Bisht demanded that all artistes involved in promoting and preserving the culture of the state should be given concession in rail and bus fares on the lines of Uttar Pradesh so that they could commute easily to showcase their talent without spending much on travelling.

He also demanded that railway centres should be opened at Dehradun, Haldwani and Kotdwar for such artistes so that concession passes could be issued to them from these places.

Bisht said a similar practice should be adopted with regard to bus fares so that artistes having a limited budget were provided some relief. He added that the artistes should also be provided concession in booking charges to perform at the newly built Town Hall in Dehradun. At present the fee of Rs 10,000 proposed by the Nagar Nigam was high and it should be reduced to half in the larger interest of the state.

He requested the government to begin the construction work on Town Hall in Mussoorie soon so that tourists could watch presentations on the culture and tradition of the state.

Anil Godiyal, producer of several Garhwali films and music albums, said an office of the Indian Council and Culture Relations (ICCR) should be opened in Uttarakhand so that artistes could visit abroad to promote the culture of the state.

Bisht informed the mediapersons that he was in Mussoorie to choose a location for a 13-episode Garhwali serial to be aired on Doordarshan from Lucknow and Dehradun.

Several folk and television artistes were present on the occasion.