The Covid19 pandemic has come down hard on the melody artistes of Odisha. With Durga Puja commencing in few days, the guidelines issued by the state government has again left the artistes in despair.
The artistes used to earn their livelihood by doing stage shows and concerts. But due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the government put restrictions on stage shows, following which the artistes have been rendered unemployed.
Be it a marriage function, puja or some private concert, these artistes used to earn their living by entertaining the guests with their skills. But with no social gatherings, the demand for these artistes is non-existent.
Many of the artistes have reportedly quit the profession, while some have sold their musical instruments to overcome this crisis.
These melody artistes claimed that they have approached the concerned administration in this regard, but their plight has remained unheard.
Video Editor: Partha Narayan Das
Producer: Sanchita Mondal