Year later, Bharatpur tableau team still waits for prize money

A team of artists from Bharatpur that took part in the Rajasthan Day celebration and were adjudged best tableau last year, are yet to receive the prize money from the state tourism department.

Ashok Kumar Sharma, head of the team , said though they have been invited to participate in the state day celebrations, are still to receive the prize money.

The state tourism department sanctioned ₹ 2.50 lakh, but has given them on only ₹ 40,000, he said.

“We have submitted a memorandum to the district collector and tourism department officials, but until now we have not received the remaining amount.

“The department, however, has again invited us this year to participate in the Rajasthan Day celebrations.”

He further said that the team from Bharatpur has more than 30 members.

State tourism department deputy director Daleep Singh Rathore said he was not aware about the payment dues.

“We have released ayments to artists’ teams that participated in the Rajasthan Day celebration last year,” he said.

District collector of Bharatpur Narendra Kumar Gupta said chief of artists’ team handed over a memorandum about their payment dues.

“I have directed the concerned officials to inquire about it. The team’s payment will be released if their demand is proper and according to rules,” he said.

He Further said that the district administration has set up a penal led by deputy director of tourism department Daleep Singh Rathore to select a team of artists to present a tableau in Jaipur on March 30.

This year, the state government has sanctioned ₹ 3 lakh for each tableau, Gupta said.