VIJAYAWADA: Beautification of the city of Vijayawada is helping the local artists earn a livelihood. In order to put a check on graffiti, pasting of obscene posters and other material on the walls, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has started beautification of the compound walls of offices by getting them painted, as part of Swachh Bharat and Swaccha Andhra. Earlier, walls in public places were filled with film posters, advertisements about programmes in the city, etc.
Though the VMC has banned sticking posters and private advertisements on the walls, the practice continued, with some film posters depicting obscene material too. This caused an embarrassment to passers-by, particularly women, on roads.
Now, all the government offices are getting their compound walls painted with government welfare schemes and messages on social issues such as protection of the environment, plantation of trees, girl child education, portraits of sports stars and colourful flower designs. This is making artists happy as they are able to show their talent and also earn a few bucks.
Now, many people are watching the pictures of sports stars from India being depicted on the walls at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium and the indoor stadium. The pictures of Pullela Gopichand, Koneru Humpy, P.V. Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are being painted, getting appreciation from the people passing through the route. Pictures of prominent players of different sports like cricket, volleyball, etc. are being painted at the stadia.
“The painting work is giving satisfaction to us as we are having an opportunity to showcase our talent after a long time,” said Manda Yesu Dasu, an artist from Eluru.
“We are a group of 10 artists and 30 assistants from Eluru, Chirala, Bapatla, Guntur, Narasaraopet and Vijayawada, and are painting all the walls in public places, as part of beautification,” he added.
“CM N. Chandrababu Naidu has given us a platform and big canvas to display our talent. We are thankful to the state government, VMC and contractors also,” said K. Kalasagar, another artist from Eluru.
“Flexes overshadowed artwork. We are not demandin a ban on flexes, but a check on them would help artists to survive,” he pointed out.
“Over 280 artists, along with me, are painting the walls in Krishna, Prakasam, Kurnool, Anantapur districts,” said Marella Ramakrishna, a contractor. “We have completed work at Rayalaseema University in Kurnool and a few are pending in Ongole and Anantapur.”
“Work has been completed in around 1 lakh sqft in Vijayawada and works are in progress in 5 lakh sqft.,” explained Ramakrishna. “The Chittinagar tunnel in the city will be more attractive after completion of artwork,” he added.
