Pension sought for indigent senior artistes

Tiruchirapalli, Apr 5 (UNI) The South Zone Cultural Centre in Thanjavur has submitted a proposal to the Union Government for sanctioning pension to senior artistes living in penury.

Speaking at a function to mark the annual day of the Government Music School and Jawahar Bal Bhavan here yesterday, Centre Director K V Giridhar said that among all the seven states falling under the jurisdiction of the South Zone Cultural Centre, Tamil Nadu excelled in staging plays. But, several drama artistes in the State were finding it difficult to eke out a livelihood. Hence, the South Zone Cultural Centre had sent a proposal to introduce a special pension scheme, he added.

He called upon the drama artistes to ensure quality in their plays as part of rejuvenating the plays and said he had convened a meeting of 1,500 artistes representing 78 drama troupes in Thanjavur on April eight. The meeting would evolve a strategy for reviving the art of drama.

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