PONDA: Stung by heavy losses suffered by float artists caused by sudden cancellation of Shigmo float parade last year by State government due to surge in COVID cases and lack of compensation for the same, many float artists have decide to boycott eh float parade this year.
Last year, just three days before the parade, government cancelled the event after rise in COVID cases. According to Shigmo artists, government had assured to provide compensation to float artists, which according to them never arrived.
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As per the estimates, an artist spends at least Rs 3 lakh for building a quality float. Over 25 youths work on one float. The artists barely manage to recover their cost from prize money because the cost of float is always more.
However last year they suffered heavy losses. Once bitten twice shy, the bitter experiences of last year has led to many float artists deciding against participation in this year’s float parade. In Ponda, out of six float troupes only three are participating.
Artists Atul Naik and Bipin Naik of Shree Bhagawati Kala Sangh, Dhavli said since last ten years they are preparing floats. But this year they are not participating in float contest as last year they suffered losses to the tune of Rs 2 lakh.
“Further we won’t be able to recover even half the cost this year as the competition is restricted to only five places – Ponda, Margao, Vasco, Panjim and Mapusa. Earlier the contest used to be held at 15 places in Goa, which would help us in recovering the cost by winning prizes,” Atul Naik said.
Bipin naik said that the aim behind preparing floats is not to earn money, but to depict their art which gives them great satisfaction.
“However financial support is needed from government through prizes as artist borrows money to prepare floats. If government fails in its promise to help the artists, on what basis we will prepare the floats,” he questioned.
According to them, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Swawant had on the floor of Assembly last year promised to clear compensation for the losses incurred by artists due to cancellation of the parade. However government failed to fulfil its promise.
They feared that artists will stop preparing floats if the government continues to default on its promises made on floor of the Assembly.
Sanjay Navelkar, the main artist of Mashel Nagrik Samiti, said that his troupe won’t participate in float competition as it won’t be financially viable. Moreover there is only one month left for the festival, which will be insufficient for him to prepare a quality float.
“As artists, we always look to entertain public and derive satisfaction from their appreciation. We were not doing it to earn money. But we need to recover at least the construction cost, which can’t be recovered if the event is restricted to only five places,” Navelkar said.
Mashal Adpoikar pancha member in Adpoi said preparing float is not easy. It costs minimum three to five lakh, besides Rs 25000 on transportation and at least need two to three months time with around more than two dozen artists.
“Government should increase prize money for float competitions. Also the consolation prize should be minimum Rs 10,000 for each troupe and it should be at least held at ten places in Goa so that participants recover the cost of float. The Government should categorise floats into A, B and C based on quality and should support them accordingly,” Adpoikar said.
