Odisha: Melody Artists Seek Compensation Ahead Of Balasore By-poll

Balasore: Hundreds of melody and other stage artists hit the streets in the district on Saturday demanding compensation, stating that they have been deprived of their livelihood since the last eight months due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown.

With just two days left for the by-poll in the constituency, the artists protested by holding placards and raising slogans against the state government.

“We will intensify our stir by staging similar protests across the state in the coming days if the government failed to provide us adequate compensation for the losses we have suffered during the lockdown,” an artist said adding that they should be given permission to earn their livelihood at the earliest.

“There are around 5,000 melody artists in Balasore. We make a living out of singing, dancing and performing live music on different stages. But our survival has been at stake since the last eight months due to the lockdown. When artists were allowed to perform during BJD’s ongoing campaigning for the by-polls, why are we not allowed to do so for our livelihood?” he questioned.

Another artist said that stage artists across the state are going through severe financial constraints and finding it even hard to run their families during Covid times.

“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is also an artist. He is a painter and he must understand the plight of the artists. We request him to provide assistance and allow us the right to earn again,” he said.