Telangana and AP haven’t Paid Corpus Fund dues to South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC)

Text By: Vikram Kumar B.R

Despite repeated efforts, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have yet to clear their corpus fund dues to the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), leaving both states in a negative balance. A committee meeting scheduled for July 18 will address this ongoing issue, which has already drawn concern from auditors, as other states have fulfilled their obligations. Due to this issue, the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC) is hesitant to sponsor artists for Telugu state cultural events. Even individual artists are being denied opportunities. A classical dancer alleged that the zonal director refused to meet with her when she approached the Centre for Programs.

An NGO organisation seeking artist support through the centre reported that the director was unresponsive to calls. This lack of support is particularly affecting Telugu state artists and festival organisers, who are facing significant challenges accessing opportunities through the zonal centre. This situation persists despite the public assurances made by the chief ministers regarding their commitment to prioritising development across various sectors. This raises serious questions about administrative execution. While leadership may express intent, the lack of follow-through by state executives is now visibly affecting grassroots cultural development. Swift action on fund clearance is needed to support artists and uphold the region’s rich cultural heritage.