More than 20 folk instrument artists gathered at the Coimbatore District Collectorate with their Parai percussion instruments and petitioned the District Collector requesting relief funds for folk artists.
Coimbatore: More than 20 folk instrument artists gathered at the Coimbatore District Collectorate with their Parai percussion instruments and petitioned the District Collector requesting relief funds for folk music artists.
Speaking to the press they said, "there are more than 5,000 folk music artists in Coimbatore and only a few of them have registered with the welfare board. Most of the artists lack proper awareness regarding the welfare board resulting in low registration."
Further they said, "while we teach folk music and try to save it from withering away, the present situation is not favourable to us. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, we have been pushed into poverty. Most of the revenue that we generate is from the months of March, April and May, as various events take place at the time. However, due to the government's announcement that social gatherings are not allowed for six months, these kind of functions where we can play music for our livelihood have come to a standstill."
They also remarked that the Rs.1,000 that was provided as relief fund for two months was not sufficient. They went on and requested, "just like hairdressers, both registered and unregistered with the Welfare Board, who were provided with COVID-19 relief fund and supplies, folk musicians should also be helped. The artists requested they be provided Rs.40,000 for four months, at Rs.10,000 per month. "If the lockdown is extended, then Rs.10,000 per month should be provided for that period too," they added.
The government should permit reopening of their training centers and provide them with employment by creating opportunities for them to play at various government functions, they requested.
Speaking to the press they said, "there are more than 5,000 folk music artists in Coimbatore and only a few of them have registered with the welfare board. Most of the artists lack proper awareness regarding the welfare board resulting in low registration."
Further they said, "while we teach folk music and try to save it from withering away, the present situation is not favourable to us. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, we have been pushed into poverty. Most of the revenue that we generate is from the months of March, April and May, as various events take place at the time. However, due to the government's announcement that social gatherings are not allowed for six months, these kind of functions where we can play music for our livelihood have come to a standstill."
They also remarked that the Rs.1,000 that was provided as relief fund for two months was not sufficient. They went on and requested, "just like hairdressers, both registered and unregistered with the Welfare Board, who were provided with COVID-19 relief fund and supplies, folk musicians should also be helped. The artists requested they be provided Rs.40,000 for four months, at Rs.10,000 per month. "If the lockdown is extended, then Rs.10,000 per month should be provided for that period too," they added.
The government should permit reopening of their training centers and provide them with employment by creating opportunities for them to play at various government functions, they requested.