Mysuru: With the State government releasing only the first installments of Dasara funds, the artists and agencies which performed during the festivities are yet to receive their payments.
The government had released Rs 6.8 crore as the first installment when the district administration had sought Rs. 14 crore for the festivities. A few of the artistes and agencies told that they received only about 35 per cent of the payment.
However, Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep said a standing instruction had been given to all the sub-committees to pay the artistes on the day before their performance, denying that there were dues to artistes. But the remaining amount is expected to be released from the government in two or three days, and after that payments will be made to the contractors and agencies, he said. He added that the district administration has unused funds of over Rs. 2 crore from the previous year, which would be used to settle the dues.
Honorarium, travel allowance and dearness allowance were paid to artistes and chief guests, but many contractors were yet to be paid, said Manjunath, Deputy Director of Libraries and secretary of the Kavighoshti sub-committee.
Somashekar, the Backward Classes Welfare Officer and secretary of the Yuva Dasara sub-committee, too said artistes, particularly those from outside Mysuru, have been paid in full already. The dues to local artistes will be settled on Monday, he added.
