One of them is Odissi dancer Guru Mayadhar Raut, 91, who was awarded the Padma Shri by the President in 2010 for his key role in restoring Odissi to its traditional status.
Digital Desk: The Central government started evicting artistes who were allotted government houses for rent in Asiad Village, South Delhi, in the 1970s. Several Padma and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardees are among them.
One of them is Odissi dancer Guru Mayadhar Raut, 91, who was awarded the Padma Shri by the President in 2010 for his key role in restoring Odissi to its traditional status. His things, including the certificate signed by the President, were found on the road during his eviction on Tuesday afternoon. Notably, Padma Shri is the country's fourth-highest civilian honour.
Madhumita Raut, an Odissi dancer and daughter of Guru Mayadhar Raut, said that officials arrived at the allotted house while she was serving lunch.
"Here is a dancer who trained some of the most iconic dancers in the country like Sonal Mansingh and Radha Reddy, and this is how you inhumanely insult this legend," Raut said, adding that she was hurt and humiliated.
Guru Mayadhar Raut's daughter went on to say that her father has been teaching in Delhi for 50 years and that he does not own a single inch of land anywhere.
Madhumita Raut, who temporarily moved into a basement belonging to her student's parents in Sarvodaya Enclave, said, "Every person needs basic decency."
The Centre ordered eight prominent artists to evacuate the premises by May 2 who were previously awarded government accommodations that had been terminated in 2014.
According to a senior Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry official, despite receiving several notices, eight out of 28 artists have not yet left their government housing.
"These eight artists assured us that they were on their way out of their bungalows and were looking for a few more days. They have provided us written assurance that they will leave the property by May 2, and we have given them time to do so," the official said.
According to the official, a team of authorities has been rushed to Guru Mayadhar Raut's government bungalow to begin the eviction procedure.
According to the government's policy, up to 40 artists earning less than Rs 20,000 per month are eligible for government-allotted housing under a specific quota in the General Pool of Residential Accommodation.
Rita Ganguly, an Indian classical singer, was denied a time extension by the Delhi High Court earlier this month. She had appealed a single judge's decision ordering her and others to vacate government-assigned housing in Delhi by April 30.
Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Navin Chawla stated they would not offer her another day of time and that the single judge's two-month extension was more than generous.
The Centre had set a deadline of December 31, 2020, to abandon the premises, but the notice was stayed by the high court after the petitions were filed. The court had stated that if the petitioners did not comply with the court's February order, the Centre might take action.
Bharatanatyam dancer Rani Shinghal, Kathak expert Geetanjali Lal, Kuchipudi dancer Guru V Jayarama Rao, Mayadhar Raut, Dhrupad singer Ustad F Wasifuddin Dagar, Mohiniyattam dancer Bharati Shivaji, and other artists, including Devraj Dakoji, Kamalini, KR Subanna, Kamal Sabri, artist Jatin Das, P
Vanashree Rao, the wife of Guru Jayarama Rao, a Kuchipudi dancer who was given a house in 1987, said they are in the process of relocating.
"We've started packing up our belongings. The government is unwilling to listen to our concerns. We'll be leaving the apartment soon," Rao told PTI.
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