Art, culture forums decry hike in hall rent
KOZHIKODE: People from all walks of life have expressed strong discontent over the increase in the rent of Town Hall and Tagore Centenary hall owned by the Kozhikode Corporation. The civic body has hiked the rent of the Town Hall, one of the most popular venues in the city for the art and cultural crowd by over six times and has doubled that of Tagore Hall.
The move has invited the wrath of art and cultural associations, who are gearing up for a series of protests. The corporation had recently increased the per day rent of Town Hall to Rs 1,348 from Rs 200. The rental fee of Tagore Centenary Hall has been hiked to Rs 41,829 from Rs 20,378.
Till recently, the corporation levied Rs 20,378 for marriage functions and ticket-based programmes at Tagore Hall, inclusive of all taxes. The civic body also levied Rs 7,500 as deposit and electricity charges. The rent for conducting a full day programme at Town Hall was just Rs 200. Based on the new tariff, organisers will have to remit Rs 15,000 as deposit to conduct a one-day programme at Tagore Hall and Rs 1,000 at Town Hall. Those who conduct ticket-based programmes and marriagesat Tagore Hall need to pay Rs 41,829 for a day. Organizers of art and cultural events need to pay Rs 27,469 for a full day event and Rs 12,735 for half-day events.
Shaji Sunder, general secretary of Kerala Kalasamskarika Vedi said a majority of art and cultural organizations depend on Town Hall to conduct various programmes.
"The increase in rent will render the century-old Town Hall above the reach of most clubs and cultural organizations," he said. "The organisation, with the help of artists and cultural leaders will conduct a mass hunger strike near the central library on June 8 to register their protest against the hike. We also plan to organize protest programmes by taking to the streets," he said, adding that the move would be a huge blow to the city's vibrant art and cultural scene.
President of the Calicut Chamber of Commerce and Industry P T A Unni said the civic body has increased the rent of Tagore Centenary Hall without providing any new services such as proper parking facilities and security. There is also no facility for water supply in the hall premises and the air conditioning system is faulty, he said. Seconding his view, Calicut Cultural Centre president Palikandy Mammedkoya said the corporation's decision to surge in electricity charges and the heavy cost involved in maintenance. Public Works standing committee chairman M Mohanan said the rent was revised considering the hike in various charges like electricity and maintenance. He said that the rent revision was long overdue and the decision to increase the fee had the consent of all councillors.
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/Art-culture-forums-decry-hike-in-hall-rent/articleshow/20389616.cms
The move has invited the wrath of art and cultural associations, who are gearing up for a series of protests. The corporation had recently increased the per day rent of Town Hall to Rs 1,348 from Rs 200. The rental fee of Tagore Centenary Hall has been hiked to Rs 41,829 from Rs 20,378.
Till recently, the corporation levied Rs 20,378 for marriage functions and ticket-based programmes at Tagore Hall, inclusive of all taxes. The civic body also levied Rs 7,500 as deposit and electricity charges. The rent for conducting a full day programme at Town Hall was just Rs 200. Based on the new tariff, organisers will have to remit Rs 15,000 as deposit to conduct a one-day programme at Tagore Hall and Rs 1,000 at Town Hall. Those who conduct ticket-based programmes and marriagesat Tagore Hall need to pay Rs 41,829 for a day. Organizers of art and cultural events need to pay Rs 27,469 for a full day event and Rs 12,735 for half-day events.
Shaji Sunder, general secretary of Kerala Kalasamskarika Vedi said a majority of art and cultural organizations depend on Town Hall to conduct various programmes.
"The increase in rent will render the century-old Town Hall above the reach of most clubs and cultural organizations," he said. "The organisation, with the help of artists and cultural leaders will conduct a mass hunger strike near the central library on June 8 to register their protest against the hike. We also plan to organize protest programmes by taking to the streets," he said, adding that the move would be a huge blow to the city's vibrant art and cultural scene.
President of the Calicut Chamber of Commerce and Industry P T A Unni said the civic body has increased the rent of Tagore Centenary Hall without providing any new services such as proper parking facilities and security. There is also no facility for water supply in the hall premises and the air conditioning system is faulty, he said. Seconding his view, Calicut Cultural Centre president Palikandy Mammedkoya said the corporation's decision to surge in electricity charges and the heavy cost involved in maintenance. Public Works standing committee chairman M Mohanan said the rent was revised considering the hike in various charges like electricity and maintenance. He said that the rent revision was long overdue and the decision to increase the fee had the consent of all councillors.
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/Art-culture-forums-decry-hike-in-hall-rent/articleshow/20389616.cms