Art & Culture director to submit report on details of programmes held in Canacona

PANJIM: Director of Art and Culture Sagun Velip said that he will submit his report to the government regarding details of cultural programmes organised in the Canacona taluka even as one of the programmes is yet to be held in Canacona. 

When asked on what basis grants were allocated to the cultural organisations following allegations by Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar that the funds were misappropriated, Velip said, “They (organisations) have to apply well in advance for the grants. They inform us about the dates of the programmes and funds required for holding them. They collaborate with us and we release 80 per cent of the estimates which is the highest amount. However, they are free to collaborate with any other authority too. The organisations have to apply one month in advance.”

According to Velip, the organisations also submit affidavits stating that they will refund the amount if they fail to organise the events with 10 per cent rate of interest. 

“When they come for the second time for grants, the department checks whether the utilisation certificate tallies with the fund allocated to them. If we find a mismatch then we recover the extra amount paid,” Velip said.    

“Mostly all the cultural programmes are held but they will take some time to submit utilisation certificates. They will submit them. Whatever funds we are giving are based on the estimates,” he said.

According to Velip, only one programme is yet to be held in Canacona and the organisation has asked for a new date. But they have to conduct the programme this financial year. The budgetary provision every year ranges between Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 3 crore and the maximum grants allocated to any group is Rs 5 lakh. 

“We are scrutinising the letters and will be in a position to submit the report to the government on Monday. Not a single pie will be misutilised. We will fix responsibility. We have gone to villages to ensure that artistes residing there avail the benefits,” said Velip.

On Friday, sarpanchas and panchayat members of Shristhal, Cotigao and Gaondongrem submitted memoranda to the Chief Minister and the Assembly Speaker demanding inquiry into sanctioning and misusing of government funds without intimating the local panchayat members and the village panchayats. They have stated that Yedda ward in Cotigao Panchayat was sanctioned maximum funds but no programme was organised.