Dressed up as Prime Minister and popular Tamil film actors, members of Coimbatore Stage Dance Performers’ Welfare Association, today appealed to the District Collector, to allow them to perform during festivals and other occasion, which they claimed were banned by police in the district.

Members, came in a group, and submitted a memorandum to the Collector, Archana Patnaik, on Grievances Day today. Stating that there were nearly 2,000 performers in the district, Association Secretary, Ajit Raja said that their livelihood was hit and they were struggling to cater for their children’s education, since police were denying permission to perform on stages.

There was wrong opinion about these dances, since Police Department compared these artistes with the record dancers, who were normally seen in rural areas, during festival times, dancing to the tune of songs, the memorandum said.

The memorandum said that there were hundreds of such troupes in Tamil Nadu, which performed on stage, dressing up as national leaders, politicians and actors and also VIPs, which did not involve any type of vulgar activities during the performance.

If permission was granted, the troupes will get to perform a minimum of 15 to 20 programmes a month in the district, with each member getting paid a minimum of Rs.1,000, Raja said.

He added that such performances were allowed in Salem and Tirupur districts butwere banned in Coimbatore district by the police.