Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 15: With a view to encourage and attract young artists for learning and practicing pure art traditions of Music, Dance & Drama, the Governor N. N. Vohra, who is the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), approved a new scholarship programme.
The scholarship scheme has been launched in association with Natrang, with an aim to ensure preservation and promotion of art forms, prevalent in the villages surrounding the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji as well as in the neighbouring districts.
Giving further details, Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, informed that the scholarship would be named as “SMVDSB Natrang Young Artist Scholarship”. The Scheme will be for three years, whereby 15 young artists will be identified and selected preferably from the villages in the neighbourhood of the shrine in district Reasi. These artists will be trained over next three years by Natrang in Traditional Art forms and Music.
The Chief Executive Officer further informed that the Shrine Board will provide the young artists a scholarship Rs.3,000 per month. The Shrine Board has launched this scheme at a cost of Rs. 16.20 lakh over next three years.
A Committee comprising of Dr. Ved Kumari Ghai, as Chairperson, Prof. Lalit Magotra, Krishna Kumari and Deputy CEO from the Shrine Board has been constituted to monitor and review the progress of the scholarship scheme at regular intervals.
Speaking on the occasion, the CEO also informed that the Board has already launched a project for preserving and showcasing heritage and rare art forms in the villages surrounding the shrine last year at a project cost of Rs. 7.00 lakh as a part of its social responsibility activities.
Follow our WhatsApp channel