Back To Village has not only helped bring governance at the doorstep of people in villages of Jammu and Kashmir, but also helped folk artists find their beat after six month coronavirus pandemic enforced hiatus.
Ajeet Pal Sharma, a folk artist from Samba, whose team has got atleast five performance opportunities from the Samba District Administration during the third edition of Back To Village, says “It is heartening to be able to perform in front of people after six-seven months.”
Amongst other gigs, they performed nukkad nataks based on the theme ‘Chalo gaon ki aur’.
“The intention of our nukkad natak was to explain the plus points of public outreach initiative to locals, motivate them to participate in it and make it a success. Through our performance, we conveyed that the government might not be an elected one, but it is working for the citizens. It has reached the doorsteps, to seek your suggestions and address your grievances,” Ajeet says.
Moreover, he adds, “The entertainment quotient in performances helped attract more and more audience, made the audience stay for longer time, filled in for the delays in a schedule, translate government initiatives in simple language for locals, and lastly, promote the folk culture.”
Sona Gupta, Block Development Officer, Vijaypur says, “Ajeet is a local of Samba district, and a folk artist. With his performance he could make people understand the government initiatives better, while also acting as an inspiration to them.”
For their performances during the Back To Village functions, his team of seven artists will be paid Rs 7000 per day.
“Though little, but it is our earning after months,” he shows his contentment.
“We are glad we could be instrumental in providing Ajeet and his team with some earning,” says BDO Vijaypur.
Ram Ditta, a folk artist from Manwal, and hundred others, government approved, non-approved artists, who were not invited for any Back to Village event.
Romalo Ram, a folk artist from Ramnagar, got only performance opportunity at Kud, in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
His team graced the function at Kud with folk music, and songs based on coronavirus, cleanliness (swacchta abhiyaan), and Back To Village.
He says, “The government has tried to accommodate folk artists in their Back To Village edition three. Definitely, not many would have got a chance to perform, but a start has been made. Folk artists, hit hard during lockdown imposed to check the spread of pandemic, have found a new energy and enthusiasm. Merely getting to perform, is a great deal for folk artist fraternity.”
He hoped that government will invite folk artists of the region to future events as well.
However, he mentions that the folk culture or folk artists were not made party to the ‘grassroot development deliberations’. Ajeet Sharma makes the same point.
“The aim of government’s initiative is to deliver equitable development through a participatory approach. Then folk culture and folk artists of the region, should have not only be there in the functions for entertainment, but also for triggering a discussion for reviving and nurturing it,” Romalo asserts.
He adds, “The declining folk culture should have been brought to the notice of LG Sinha. Also, he should have been made aware of folk artists who are braving societal and government apathy to keep their art and traditions alive, the identity of region alive.”
waliaharry 
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