Lingadevaru starts welfare petition for film technicians

Sandalwood director BS Lingadevaru has started an online petition, appealing authorities to consider actors and technicians working in the film and television industries under art industry, so that they can also avail the welfare facilities provided in the wake of the pandemic.
“Cinema in an amalgamation of various art forms — acting, music, dance, photography, cinematography, makeup, costumes and more.The Covid-19 outbreak has pushed people involved in all these practices into a precarious situation. Although Sandalwood identifies itself as an industry, when it comes to government funds, it is often left out,” he says, adding, “The Kannada and Cultural Department doesn’t consider us cultural warriors, who need financial support. Even the Labour Department turns a blind eye to the problems that workers in these industries are facing. We are also not entitled to any dedicated social security schemes. Every year, the government receives crores of rupees from the film and television industries as taxes. But during a crisis like this, we are termed an unorganised sector. We need to be recognised under a separate cultural wing, so that policies can be formulated for the benefit of film and TV workers.”
The filmmaker has requested for a meeting with Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to discuss and submit the petition, which has, so far, been signed by P Sheshadri, TS Nagabharana and B Suresha, among others.