Artists Demand Transparency as Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Delays Awards Announcement

The Central Sangeet Natak Akademi has consistently delayed the announcement of its awards over the past two to three years. This issue was first highlighted by a private media organisation when a delay of 12 days occurred in an earlier announcement. This has led to widespread speculation among artists regarding the reasons behind these delays. Traditionally, the Akademi would promptly release the winners’ list immediately after the conclusion of the General Council meeting. However, in recent years, there has been a noticeable departure from this practice, with delays ranging from 10 to 15 days and, in one instance, nearly a month.

The government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is known for its advocacy for transparency. This raises questions about the lack of transparency in the operations of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi. Inquiries into the matter often receive a response attributing the delay to awaiting the Culture Minister’s signature. However, the Akademi’s bylaws mandate that the awards list should be released to the media as soon as it receives approval from the General Committee. This deviation from established tradition has left artists pondering the reasons behind the lack of adherence to a system that was once efficient and transparent.