The Kerala government has cancelled all State-funded festivals against the backdrop of the recent floods. With this, the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and the State Schools Arts Festival, two important events in Kerala’s cultural calendar, would not be held this year. The General Administration Department on Tuesday issued the order, citing the havoc wrought by the flood, and advised all heads of departments to remit the sums budgeted for the festivities in the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.
However, the order immediately drew opposition from Ministers, who wanted the annual cultural events and festivals to be held without fanfare.