Rupesh Samant

Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 9: Art and Culture minister Govind Gawade said that the budget for his department may be cut by almost 30 percent while disapproving the demands of
professional artists to pay them the remuneration for the losses during the lockdown period.

He said that the budget for his department will be slashed by almost 30 percent when the state government will work out fiscal measures to bring the economy back on
track.

“The current ban on holding any events as part of social distancing measures has cancelled all the festivals that were organized by the department.

"Events like dramas and other entertainment platforms will resume only after the rains, somewhere in September-October.

"State-run Kala Academy, located in Panaji, will also restart after the monsoon season.

"The southwest monsoon sets in Goa in the first week of June every year.

"The state government may allow holding of music classes, with social distancing.

"Various libraries which are run by the department will open up in a phased manner. Libraries with a lesser crowd will resume their work in the beginning."

Meanwhile, responding to the demand of monthly remuneration sought by various artists, the minister said that such a demand cannot be approved.

The professional artists including theatre personalities had approached Gawade and chief minister Pramod Sawant demanding remuneration for them as no events are held
during the lockdown, leaving them with no income.

Gawade said that such a package or remuneration cannot be considered as 'it is not just artists but people across all the strata who are affected due to the lockdown'.