March 12: Following the controversy over government grant to literary meets and a spate of resignations by litterateurs, the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad (KMSP) has announced a drastic cut in the budget allocation for its forthcoming literary meet scheduled for November this year at Guhagar.The parishad better known as KoMaSaPa will spend Rs 3 lakh down from its usual Rs 12-15 lakh (state government grant included). The KMSP will also not accept any grant/donations from the state government.
The KMSP is a body that caters to the literary interests of Maharashtra's Konkan region. ``The state government used to aid our meets. But we will not accept any help henceforth,'' president, KMSP, and noted Marathi litterateur, Madhu Mangesh Karnik, told Express Newsline. The KMSP has, in fact, returned the aid of Rs 50,000 sanctioned by the state government for its literary meet last year. The body plans to raise funds for the meets through donations from literature loving people and from litterateursthemselves.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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