Dehradun, 10 May:
Tourism, Horticulture, Culture, Alternative Energy and Women Empowerment and Child Development Minister Amrita Rawat asked the Cultural Department to make its contribution in conservation of state's historical and mythological and cultural heritage of the state.
Minister Rawat chairing the review meeting of Cultural Department on Thursday directed the Cultural Department officers to maintain and upgrade the cultural heritage by preserving music, dance, drama, folk music, folk dance and give wide publicity to them. She also instructed them to ensure preservation of archeological sites, monuments and ancient scripts of Uttarakhand. She instructed them to organize carnivals in all the 13 districts which should be of one week or 3 to 5 days in which not only the Uttarakhand's culture be presented to the people but also the cultures of other parts of the country. She said that similar to that of Taj Mahotsav and Khajurao Mahotsav, Badri-Kedar Mahotsav could be organized in the state. She also advocated encouraging local folk artists.
Minister Rawat instructing the officers to construct auditorium in 5 bigha land at Ramnagar also directed them to complete preparation for Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra due next year.
Director, Cultural Department, Beena Bhatt apprised the Minister about various projects launched for the preservation of culture and said that the elderly folk artists were being paid monthly pension. She said that funds were being provided for various fairs, cultural activities and workshops.
Ms Rawat laid stress on developing the old jail premises as Nehru Memorial. She was apprised that the undertaking agency had already paid for this project for the same.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Secretary SS Waldiya, Under Secretary Shyam Singh Chauhan and Deputy Director Lalta Prasad.