DM issues clear instructions regarding NCZCC – anti-art and impractical instructions are unacceptable
Prayagraj: An important meeting to address various issues faced by local artists and cultural organizations was held on Monday at 2:00 pm in Sangam Auditorium, Prayagraj, under the direction of District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma and chaired by Phulpur MP Praveen Patel. Administrative officials, representatives of the North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC), and a large number of artists and cultural organizations attended the meeting. District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma is currently the District Magistrate of Prayagraj.
At the meeting, local artists expressed their anger and serious dissatisfaction with the impractical rules being imposed on cultural organizations for the past year, allegedly by the Director of the North Central Zone Cultural Center, who has been misinterpreting the District Magistrate’s previous directives and arbitrarily. The artists stated that cultural organizations organizing events at the NCZCC are being asked to complete additional formalities, such as obtaining separate permissions from the fire, police, traffic, and entertainment departments, which is affecting cultural activities.
In the meeting, the District Magistrate gave clear instructions to the representatives of NCZCC that in future, no anti-art or unnecessarily impractical instructions should be issued for the artists and cultural institutions and a sensitive and cooperative approach should be adopted towards the artists.
Folk artist Atul Yaduvanshi, recognizing the long-standing need of local cultural institutions, proposed providing permanent rehearsal space for artists in the city and developing one large and two small modern auditoriums in Prayagraj under the Smart City plan. The District Magistrate took this proposal seriously and directed the Uttar Pradesh Culture Department to locate suitable land and prepare a proposal.
Folk artist Reenu Bhartiya proposed developing folk art halls and platforms for folk artists in rural areas and suggested establishing such centers in some village councils in the initial phase. The District Magistrate directed the District Panchayat Raj Officer to prepare the necessary proposal. Senior folk artist Kamlesh Chandra Yadav raised the issue of alleged discrimination against Birha artists by the NCZCC, saying that the entire Birha troupe is being paid only Rs. 5,000 per performance, while the artists say the appropriate remuneration should be around Rs. 30,000. Pancham Lal also raised the serious issue of alleged discrimination against artists from backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes at the meeting.
Theatre directors Sudipa Mitra and Siddharth Pal raised the issue of changes to NCZCC’s previously established schemes and the deprivation of artists from their fixed honorarium and incentives. Senior theatre director Anil Ranjan Bhowmik raised the issue of increased auditorium rents by NCZCC, drawing attention to the financial burden on artists and cultural institutions. The District Magistrate and MP Phulpur jointly agreed to send a proposal in this regard to the Chairman of NCZCC and the Honorable Governor of Uttar Pradesh.
In the meeting, Governing Board Member of NCZCC and MP Phulpur Praveen Patel ji stressed on the need for the representatives of the Centre to treat the artists with sensitivity and respect and to work meaningfully for the preservation, promotion of folk and traditional arts and in the interest of the artists.
Additional District Magistrate (City), officers of Police Commissionerate, Entertainment Tax Officer and Deputy Director as representative of North Central Zone Cultural Centre along with other concerned officers were present in the meeting.
The decisions made at the meeting have raised positive hopes among Prayagraj’s artists and cultural organizations. Artists expressed confidence that the district administration’s intervention will foster a more responsive, transparent, and artist-friendly environment for cultural activities at the NCZCC and will give a new direction to Prayagraj’s rich cultural tradition.
