The districts of Boudh and Deogarh have performed badly in implementing the artists-encouragement programme of organising Kala Sanskruiti Sanghas (KSSs) and converging funds for the traditional artists.
Ganjam is leading the lot while Cuttack and Sundargarh districts have taken faster steps to converge funds for the traditional artists.
While a Rs40-crore fund has been created for the programme, the Collectors of the Boudh and Deogarh have failed to converge the funds, said an official.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while reviewing the programme on Monday, laid stress on successful implementation of this programme.
Minister of Tourism & Culture Maheswar Mohanty, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik, Development Commissioner JK Mohapatra and Principal Secretary of Tourism & Culture Ashok Kumar Tripathy
were present.
A decision was taken to prepare a special calendar for these artists’ groups. The KSSs have been formed to make use of various folk art forms to raise awareness on Government-sponsored programmes.
It was learnt that as many as 459 folk art forms have so far been taken up by block-level Kala Sanskruti Sanghas (BKSSs) while 78,360 artists associated with 7,064 art groups are engaged in the awareness-raising activities.
In a bid to strengthen these groups and Sanghas and streamline their activities, a special calendar would be prepared for the Sanghas on the basis of various local societal, educational and health issues.
As per a decision at the meeting, all departments would be asked to make budgetary provisions for information, education and communication (IEC), which is essential for the programmes of these Sanghas.
The State Government has already made convergence of Rs10 crore for the traditional artists and incurred an expenditure of more than Rs4 crore.
The meeting underscored the need for generating awareness on issues relating to girl child, education, health and Government policies and programmes. All district Collectors were asked to make use of folk art forms to publicise the Government’s programmes and policies.
It was also decided that all the folk art forms would be documented, said an official.