Shilparamam loses its sheen

Visakhapatnam: Shilparamam arts and crafts village near Madhurawada is a tribute to the rich cultural legacy of the country. Now it is losing its sheen due to official apathy as it has been deprived of entertainment, fun, frolic and food to relish.

Highlights:

• Main aim of Shilparamam is to give the fading local arts and crafts a boost by bringing artisans and customers onto one platform.
• It has been deprived of fun and frolic STourists, who visit the place, going out repenting for paying a visit as there is not even a food court to relish food
• Paying salaries to the staff has become difficult as there is no regular income, says administrative officer

Speaking to The Hans India, administrative officer of Shilparamam P Shiva said that he was recently transferred from Anantapur and it has become herculean task for him to maintain the park as there is no revenue generation from the crafts village.

Paying the salaries to eight housekeeping staff and six security personnel has become difficult due to lack of regular income. He also added that being far away from the city, mostly students from various colleges come here. Many sculptures were installed in the park and shops are available with a rent of Rs 1200 per month, he explained. While unoccupied shops are in a dilapidated condition.

The main aim of Shilparamam is to give the fading local arts and crafts a boost by bringing artisans and customers onto one platform. Every Sunday, the administration is conducting cultural programmes in the open air theatre by engaging local artistes for two hours and pays Rs 6,000 for them. But for the past two months no cultural progrmame was organised.
Siva, who is working as an electrician since two years here, was transferred from Hyderabad Shilparamam to Vizag after bifurcation.

This place was losing its identity because visitors expect more fun and entertainment, but this place lacks that and tourists outside the state loves the artificial beauty whereas at present here there are trees and lawns to relax, while sculptures and birds, too, are there but not exciting the tourists. Hyderabad Shilparamam is bigger than this. Over 400 people visit minimum per day, while on Sunday's it is up to 1,000.

Manga, a craft vendor, said that they would do business only on Sundays and when the administration conducts special programmes. Since two months only two private functions were held in the park. No deposits are being collected here by the management, hence, they are continuing their business even on hard days, she pointed out.Parvathi Sadashivam, a tourist from Chennai, came, along with her family, and lamented that it’s a waste of time as there is nothing here to enjoy. She said that she never experienced such a pathetic situation in a tourist place there is not even a proper food court here.

By Phani Suni