Bengal govt mulling online platform to benefit folk artistes

Kolkata: The Bengal government is mulling a project to introduce an online platform, using which one can easily approach the state to engage artistes who are enrolled under the Lok Prasar Prakalpa.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had introduced the scheme to extend support to folk artistes across the state and to revive many art forms on the verge of extinction. In the first year, as many as 84,720 folk artistes were brought under the scheme and gradually around 2 lakh artistes have been brought under the scheme.

The scheme has ensured that each of the artistes get a retainer fee of Rs 1,000 per month and at the same time, the state government arranges programmes for them. The folk artistes are also involved in different advertisements of the state government. Moreover, folk artistes who are above 60 years of age, get a pension of Rs 1,000 every month.

A senior official in the state secretariat said: "There is also a provision in the scheme that allows the artistes under the Lok Prasar Prakalpa to perform in programmes organised by non-government bodies. It is somewhat like a joint venture, in which the state government gives them the retainership and the organiser of a programme bears the rest of the expenses, which include transport and light and sound arrangement. It is basically to help them reach more people and to uphold the talent of the folk artistes."

The state government engages the artistes under Lok Prasar Prakalpa to create awareness among common people on different state government projects including Yubashree, Shikhashree and Kanyashree.

But participation of folk artistes in events organised by non-government bodies help more and more people watch the performances of artistes who perform Natua, Chhau, Raibeshi, etc.

If everything goes as planned, then the online platform will get introduced in the next financial year, sources said. It has been learnt that there will be a link in the official portal of Bengal government, Egiye Bangla.

One just needs to click on the link, which will take the user to another webpage, in which the details regarding the programme for which artistes enrolled under the Lok Prasar Prakalpa have been sought, need to be typed in.

After going through the details of the programme, concerned officials of the state government will take the next required steps in this connection.

At present, one needs to approach district authorities for the same. But with the introduction of the online platform, it would be possible from any part of the globe.