Betanati: Jhumar – a vibrant dance form of Orissa – has come to occupy pride of place in the cultural milieu of the state over the years.
Recognising the vast untapped potential of the dance form, the Union government had decided to set up an Orissa Jhumar Academy in order to nurture and groom youngsters at Betanati in Mayurbhanj district back in 2013. However, there has been no progress on that front with only a plaque being laid in this regard.
Four years have passed since its foundation stone was laid here, but not steps have been taken to set up the academy, said local Jhumar artistes who say their hopes of a better future have been dashed.
According to reports, there is a population of over 7 lakh belonging to the Kudumi community in the district. They had long been demanding establishment of a Jhumar Academy in order to revive and promote their traditional dance form at the national and international level.
Eventually, the Union government considered their demand and laid a foundation stone for the academy June 3, 2013 here under Gramin Vikas Trust, Govt of India.
Then Balasore MP and Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers Srikant Jena was present at the ground-breaking ceremony. Jena had laid emphasis on promotion and spread of Jhumar. Those who had addressed the meeting assured that steps will be taken to bring forth the Jhumar artistes living in obscurity in rural areas, at the same time promising that various measures would be taken to strengthen their economic backbone.
It was assured that a sum of Rs 80 lakh would be made available for infrastructure development of the academy from Gramin Vikas Trust (under Government of India). An amount of Rs 25 lakh was supposed to be provided in the first phase.
The administration had identified a patch of 50 decimals of land near Betanati fire station, but the land has not been made available for the proposed projects as yet, it is learnt.
Then MP Laxman Tudu said he would provide Rs 10 lakh from his MPLAD fund while Badasahi MLA Manoranjan Sethi promised Rs 10 lakh from his MLALAD fund.
As land has not been available, construction work is yet to start. Several other leaders like Sananda Marndi, then MP Birabhadra Singh, MLA Manoranjan Sethi, Jhumar researcher Binapani Mohant and Basant Mohant were present at the ground-breaking ceremony.
State secretary of Kudumi Mahasabha, Basant Mohant, said they are now tired of making rounds of offices including even the RDC’s office, but no land has been provided for the academy. He blamed the administration for the inordinate delay in provision of land. PNN
