Art and Culture director clarifies against reports of poor functioning

Pothashang News Service

Imphal, January 20, 2018: The art and culture department director K. Sushila has clarified against media publications of poor/non-functioning of the art and culture department in a press notification released today. .

The director stated despite of poor budget and the limited fund and resources. the main objective of the department is also to promote artistes and artisans through giving platform for performance and activities to various parts of the country and abroad to showcase Manipuri art, culture and heritage; to promote activities which seek to enhance the living conditions of’ the artistes and artisans socially, economically and culturally for which the department provides financial assistance in the way of Old Age Pension of Rs. 1000/- per month to 150 beneficiaries through Manipur State Kala Akademi, recognition of artistes and Gurus through annual Manipur State Kala Akademi Fellowships and Awards carrying purse money of Rs 1.00 lakh. Rs 0.50 lakh and Citation respectively, encouragement to young generation of artistes through Young Talent Award with purse money of Rs. 0.25 lakh, and as a facilitator to the pursuance of higher studies in the field of art, the young artistes are given scholarship and fellowship under eminent gurus in which both the students and Gurus are paid fees of Rs. 1000/- each per month for the course they carry out for two years.

The directorate has a scheme of financial assistance extended to registered cultural organisations annually. Under this scheme, about 400 cultural organizations from the valley districts of Manipur and Assam are being helped in their yearly activities. Some well established institutions such Manipur Sahitya Parishad, Cultural Forum, Kalakshetra Manipur, Chorus Repertory Theatre in the state and Manipur Sahitya Parishad, Assam are given Rs 1.00 lakh per annum as assistance. Some second category institutions are given Rs 0.50 lakh, and the rest are given in the range of Rs 15,000/- to Rs 40,000/- depending upon their work and project. Under the same scheme, financial assistance to support the activities in the hill districts is also extended in the tune of Rs 3.00 lakh each through the concerned ADCs, and Rs 6.00 lakh for the development of Hill District Library movement.

Beyond this, the department also provides infrastructure facility to various organizations by hiring out Maharaja Chandrakirti Auditorium, Manipur State Art Gallery, BOAT, MSFDS hall, Artistes’ Dormitory etc. to showcase their artistic talent and creativity.

The Department has also sponsored a team of Thang Ta to participate at the World Humanities Conference, Liege, Belgium in the month of August 2017 bearing all the expenditures in the tune of Rs 8.85 lakh, and sponsorship of 20 members’ Manipur cultural team to Thailand for participation at the Surin International Cultural Exchange has been an annual feature of the department for the last 8 years, added the statement released.