Newskarnataka-Bantwal
Bantwal: The district level science drama competitions was held at Dr Radhakrishna auditorium of District Institute for Education of Teachers (DIET) at Mangalore, with poor stage facility. The unpreparedness and apathy of department was exemplified in this incident.
The students’ drama troupes from 6 zones of Dakshina Kannada district partaken in the competitions that was organized by public instruction department. The student enacted their roles cursing the department apathy throughout the competitions that was held from morning till evening.
DIET had instructed the drama troupes to arrive at the venue at 9.00am sharp, but DIET Center was opened only at 9.30am. The student artistes who expected better stage facility were shocked to find soiled chairs, poor lighting and sound systems. There were not even proper curtains to switch over the roles.
No food…travelling allowance!
The education department invited the top science drama troupes from Sullia, Puttur, Beltangady, Moodbidri, Bantwal and Mangalore north zone at the district center in Mangalore. The troupe of Government High School, Bellare in Sullia taluk arrived at DIET Centre, Mangalore sharp at 9.00pm. None of the troupes were provided with breakfast by the organizers. Meanwhile, the organizers provided just tea at 11.00am. Although the organizers were supposed to provide meals to 8-member a troupe, with great difficulty the meals were served to all.
Despite the organizers were paying only the bus fares to each troupe, the troupe has hired jeeps and vans to transport the accessories to stage their drama at their own cost. The organizers have even paid just one-way bus fare to a few troupes that arrived from far off taluks. The authorities have completed the district level drama competitions in the midst of all the chaos, but who would listen to the grievances of the participants who endured all this. The organizers have done a worthy act that is most experienced jurors at the venue.
Lack of funds
The education department grants just Rs 10,000 to organize district level science drama competition and its impossible to fulfill the demands of all participants, says science drama competitions overseer Nanjundewamy. Out of Rs 10,000 that has been granted by educatin department, the cash prizes, honorarium to jurors, food and beverages to 7 troupes, travelling expenses had to be balanced. In fact, it’s difficult to manage all that. In case if more money is being spent, the audit department raises objection, in spite of this some monies are spent from pocket, even then its difficult to balance, said Nanjundeswamy.