Kayamkulam: BJP leader and actor Suresh Gopi has promised to help a sculptor, Johns Kollakadavu, who pawned his own house to complete his work after the government did not pay him for the work he did for Tourism Department. The bank had sent the sculptor foreclosure notice and he was on the verge of losing his house when Suresh Gopi intervened and agreed to pay off the sculptor’s debt.
Johns Kollakadavu had made a statue of a mermaid as part of a tourism project in Kayamkulam. However, the money given by the government was not enough to complete the work. This prompted the sculptor to pawn his own house and he took out a loan of Rs.3,60,000. He then completed the project using this money.
The authorities had promised John Kollakadavu that he would be paid for the rest of the amount immediately. However, the government went back on its promise and this left the sculptor with no means to pay back his loan amount. When the bank sent him the foreclosure notice he was facing a bleak future with fear of losing his home.
When Suresh Gopi came to know of the artist’s plight he rushed to help him. The BJP leader said that he came to know of John Kollakadavu’s situation from the news. The government did some works to promote tourism and to entertain the tourists who come to these tourist spots. However, there was some failure from the government’s part. I just wanted the sculptor not to lose his home, he said.
Johns Kollakadavu is a state award winning sculptor. Tourism Minister, PA Muhammad Riyas has said that he will respond after looking into the matter.
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