Several eminent artists who have been asked to vacate the houses allotted to them by the government in Lutyens’ and South Delhi by December 31 say the decision was sudden and inhumane during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Padma Vibhushan recipient told The Hindu that he would “return all the awards” if he is evicted from the Shahjahan Road house allotted to him. Artists poolUnder the artists pool, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, through the Directorate of Estates, and on the recommendation of the Culture Ministry, allots houses to eminent artists. Eviction notices had been sent by the DoE in October, according to the artists and government sources. Bharti Shivaji, a Mohiniyattom dancer who said she lives with her 97-year-old mother at the government-allotted house in Asian Games Village, said it was “inhumane” of the government to send eviction notices during the pandemic.

Source: The Hindu November 15, 2020 17:26 UTC