BHUBANESWAR: A day after the State Sangeet Natak Akademi president Sarat Pujari resigned, the State Government on Wednesday assured him to look into all his demands in 15 days.Alleging lack of facilities at the Akademi, Pujari sent his resignation letter to the Culture Minister Prafulla Samal on Tuesday. He had joined the Akademi as president on February 23 this year. Speaking to this paper, he said despite being an honorary president, he was denied a quarter and other perks that he is entitled to and was being paid a meagre `5,000 a month. “I was not even provided an office on the Akademi premises which is humiliating for a person who has served as an academician for over 30 years,” lamented Pujari, adding that the salary that he was paid was equivalent to that of a Class IV employee. This apart, work pressure in the last six months was too much, he said. “I was asked to single-handedly organise the State Film Awards within just six days which demands organised work and is too much for a person of my age,” Pujari alleged. Stating that even previous presidents of the Akademi had to face similar problems during their tenure, Pujari said there are no laid down norms for the functioning of the Akademi or its employees. “The condition was pitiable and I had to step down to bring it to the notice of the State Government,” said Pujari. While sources in the Culture Department said the resignation letter has not been accepted, Pujari informed that he has not received any assurance from the Department in writing. He said he would consider taking back the resignation if the Government fulfills his demands in the next 15 days.
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