Money for artists, cultural activities gets lost on its way

Data provided by directorate under RTI reveals loopholes in doling out aid

PESHAWAR:

Although artists in the province submitted hundreds of applications for financial aid to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Culture, many complained the authority turned a deaf ear to their requests.

“I know my appeal will not be heard; despite that I would request aid money be released for my colleagues if it has been approved by senior officials,” Naeem Jan, an artist told The Express Tribune. “The government assured us three months ago that we would be compensated but no such amount has been released.”

Data for two years provided by the directorate under the Right to Information law reveals where funds have been directed.

Available with The Express Tribune, the data shows in 2015 as yet only two artists were provided financial support. Folk artist Gulab Sher with Rs50,000 while Ruqaya, an artist, received Rs15,000. In 2014, 11 artists were given financial assistance of up to Rs50,000 whereas in the same year, an individual identified as Zainab, whose affiliation with the directorate has yet to be ascertained, was given aid twice in the period of a few months.



The directorate lacks a website where it can make such news public.

In whose hands?

Apart from individuals, the money was also given to those organisations which seem to have failed to play a significant role in promoting culture or are strong entities to begin with.

For instance, in 2015, the Insaf Student Federation was given Rs100,000, Malik Saad Shaheed Trust was given Rs250,000 and Digital Youth Summit was provided with Rs250,600. Also, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Sardar Suran Singh was given Rs1.5 million from the amount only meant to be used to promote cultural institutions and artists, although he has no known links with either the directorate or any cultural activities.

According to the data provided through the RTI request, PTI MPA Dina Naz was given Rs925,820 for holding an award ceremony in her constituency. The money for the event was handed over even though the organisers and relevant individuals did not publish a tender in the newspaper.

Even the Peshawar Press Club got a share in the form of a donation of Rs188,000.

Standing still

Some money was released for the revival of culture. For instance, singer Bakhtiar Khattak was given Rs404,200 to arrange a cultural event but it is not known whether the funds were used to said end. A senior artist, Mumtaz Ali, who is ailing, was given Rs300,000 while singer Hidayatullah had also been given the same amount.

“We have been affected by the prevailing [security] situation as no cultural activities are going on here,” said Ahmad Gul Ustad, a famous folk singer. He is among many artists, singers and writers who were promised Rs30,000 but still await aid.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2015.