Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 16: Padma Shri Balwant Thakur here today met Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and voiced for substantial and targeted support for the revival and development of arts and culture in J&K.
Having devoted his life to the service of art and culture, Thakur shared his visionary roadmap for the holistic cultural up-liftment of the region.
He urged the Union Minister to consider J&K under a special cultural provision, similar to the model adopted for North Eastern states in order to address the long-standing neglect of the region’s rich cultural heritage.
A key point raised in the discussion was the pending demand for a regional centre of the National School of Drama in Jammu. Thakur emphasized that such a centre is vital for nurturing talent and institutionalising theatre education in the region.
He also highlighted the absence of regional centres of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Sahitya Akademi and Lalit Kala Akademi in J&K. Thakur strongly advocated for the establishment of one regional centre for each of these academies in J&K.
Expressing grave concern over the disappearance of numerous traditional art forms in the region, Thakur called for a defined cultural policy focused on the preservation and promotion of endangered art forms.
He claimed that many national schemes aimed at directly funding cultural organisations have failed to reach J&K.
Thakur appealed to the Union Minister for urgent and sustained efforts to recognise and support artistic excellence in J&K.
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