90-Year-Old Padma Shri Awardee Evicted From Govt Accommodation In Delhi: Here's Why
Odissi dancer and Padma Shri awardee Guru Mayadhar Raut was evicted from his government allocated residence in the Asian Games Village in Delhi.
The 90-year-old who was awarded a Padma Shri in 2010 for his significant role in giving Odissi its classical status was evicted from the accommodation that he has been living since the 1980s, after the government stopped renewing it in 2014.
Several artists were allotted accommodations at nominal rents for three-year terms which were extended regularly.
However, since 2014, it is not been renewed and the artists were asked to vacate the accommodations.
Out of the 28 emanant artists who were allocated accommodations, 20 of them had already moved out and eight others including Raut had stayed back.
The Centre had on Wednesday asked eight eminent artistes to vacate the facilities by May 2.
On Guru Mayadhar Raut's eviction, the official said a team of officials had been sent to his government bungalow for initiating eviction proceedings. Social media videos and pictures showed his household goods of kept outside the bungalow.
How artists got government accommodation
According to the government's policy, up to 40 artistes can be allotted accommodation under a special quota in the General Pool Residential Accommodation on the recommendation of the culture ministry if they earned under Rs 20,000 a month.
Earlier this month, the Delhi High Court had refused to grant more time to Indian classical artiste Rita Ganguly who had challenged a single judge's decision directing her and others to vacate government allotted residences in the national capital by April-end.
Legal challenges
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Navin Chawla had said it would not grant even one more day and noted that the single judge was more than benevolent while granting her two months' time.
The Centre had given a deadline of December 31, 2020, to vacate the premises but the notice was stayed by the high court after the petitions were filed.
The court had said it would be open for the Centre to take action if the petitioners did not comply with its February order.
The single-judge had delivered its verdict on the pleas by Mohiniyattam dancer Bharati Shivaji, Kuchipudi dancer Guru V Jayarama Rao, Mayadhar Raut, Dhrupad singer Ustad F Wasifuddin Dagar, Bharatanatyam dancer Rani Shinghal, Kathak expert Geetanjali Lal, and other artistes including KR Subanna, Kamal Sabri, Devraj Dakoji, Kamalini, artist Jatin Das, Pt Bhajan Sopori and Ganguly.
According to Raut's daughter Madhumita Raut who is also an Odissi dancer, her father has been living in Delhi for more than 50 years and do not own any property anywhere.
