Maharashtra government to double grant for Dashavatar folk artists to Rs 4.4 crore, simplify registration process

Mumbai: Grants for folk arts, including Dashavatar, will be doubled Rs 2.2 crore Rs 4.4 crore and the financial assistance will be directly transferred to the artists’ bank accounts, state cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar announced in the legislative assembly on Wednesday.Dashavatar artists are traditional folk performers and artisans from the Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa who dedicate their craft to the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu.Pointing out that Dashavatar is not merely a folk art form, but an integral part of Maharashtra’s cultural, religious, and traditional heritage, Shelar, while replying to a calling attention motion raised by MLA Nilesh Rane, said: “Govt has also decided to undertake the registration of Dashavatar artists, conduct physical verification at the district level and issue identity cards to eligible folk artists.

Divisional officers will visit districts to carry out the registration process.

”Shelar added: “A meeting was recently convened to deliberate on the various demands of Dashavatar artists. State-level committee was expanded with the inclusion of Devendra Naik, Dattaprasad Shenai, Santosh Redkar, Rajaram Dhuri and Sharad Mochemadkar. As per a 2008 Government Resolution (GR), capital and performance grants were provided to full-time tamasha, seasonal tamasha, Dashavatar, Khadi Gammat, Shahiri and Sangeet Bari folk art troupes.

Under the revised policy, half of the increased grant will be directly credited to the artists’ bank accounts, while the remaining amount will be disbursed to troupe operators. New GR will be issued within the next 15 days.”Taking serious note of complaints alleging the distortion of folk traditions in the web series ‘Dev Khele’, Shelar said directions have been issued to initiate police action against the web series and to notify the Centre too.