91-yr-old Padma awardee evicted from govt house, artists question move
India Today
As eviction proceedings at a Padma awardee's home began on Tuesday, artists questioned why elderly legends are being mistreated.
On Tuesday, a bansuri playing Lord Krishna and a framed certificate of a Padma Shri award were thrown out on the street after their owner was evicted from a government bungalow.
The eviction took place at the government-owned home currently occupied by Guru Mayadhar Raut, a 91-year-old Odissi dancer living in Asiad Village in South Delhi.
About 12 other artists, including Mohiniyattam dancer Bharati Shivaji, Kuchipudi dancer Guru V Jayarama Rao, Dhrupad singer Ustad F Wasifuddin Dagar, Rani Shinghal, Kathak expert Geetanjali Lal, lithographer KR Subanna, sarangi player Kamal Sabri, Devraj Dakoji, Kamalini, artist Jatin Das, Pt Bhajan Sopori and singer Rita Ganguly, will also face similar proceedings in the coming days.
For decades, artists such as classical dancers, painters, singers, and photographers have resided in government bungalows provided by the central government under a discretionary quota. Some allotments date back to the 1980s, while others were distributed in the early 2000s.
The government has now asked them to vacate their homes, claiming that the allotment expired due to a policy change in 2008. The government has also said that the artists have not paid licence fee arrears for several years.
Eviction officials landed at the home of Odissi dancer and Padma awardee Guru Mayadhar Raut on Tuesday afternoon. Within hours, his belongings were out on the street.
The artists say that they have not been given adequate time to vacate the premises and wonder why they are being evicted at this late stage of their lives.
