Priya Sethi for revamping Culture Department

Urges dept to implement CSSs for preservation, depiction of JK’s rich cultural heritage

SRINAGAR, MAY 17: Minister of State for Education, Tourism and Culture, Priya Sethi today instructed the cultural department to gear up and work towards introducing various Centrally Sponsored Schemes in  the state for exhibition, preservation and depiction of rich culture of all regions.

The Minister said this while chairing a meeting convened to review the functioning of Culture department besides accessing progress on implementation of various instructions passed for up-gradation and upkeep of the Museums.

 Secretary Culture Dilshada Khan, Secretary Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Dr. Aziz Hajni, Director Archives, Archeology and Museums Mohammad Shafi Zahid, Special Secretary Culture Department, were present in the meeting.

The Minister asking the department to gear up their response, especially from field agencies, said ‘we have to ensure Culture Sector gets the requisite boost besides ensuring flow of funding from GoI in respect of implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes’.

She further asked the department to expeditiously identify land in Jammu, Kashmir for construction of Cultural Complex for exhibition of culture related activities.

The Minister was informed that process is on for identification of land for construction of seven regional culture centers. 

The Minister also took stock of achievements made so far and plans in pipeline for preservation and exhibition of rich Tibetan/Himalayan Culture. She was informed that 18 cases are being sponsored to Government of India for grant of aid for preservation of Tibetan Culture.

The Minister stressed upon participants to put up a detailed note with regard to activities carried out for implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes and others projects completed, taken in hand. 

She instructed the Secretary AAC&L to explore schemes being formulated by Government of India in this sector that are yet to be implemented in the state including Scheme of Building Grants including Studio Theatres, Scheme of Buddhist/Tibetan Culture Art, Certificate of Excellence scheme for Museum Professionals, Museum Grants Scheme, Artists Pension Scheme & Welfare fund, Scheme for scholarship to young artists, National Memorial Scheme, Scheme for Digitization of Museum  Collection, Scheme for safeguarding the intangible Cultural Heritage, Scheme for capacity building and training of Museum Professional.

With regards to Cultural Mapping the Minister asked the Secretary Culture Department to submit an action taken report with regards to the MoU signed with Government of Tamil Nadu for tangible mapping of heritage in the State.

The Minister also stressed on doubling efforts to exhibit artifacts available with the Archives Department and making them accessible to public. She was informed that 60,000 files have been shifted to Kala Kendra for preservation and process is on till a suitable repository comes up elsewhere.