Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday said the State Government was determined to promote art and culture of the State and all possible efforts were being made to promote and facilitate the artists and writers.
Presiding over the Sammaan Samaaroh organised by the Himachal Art, Culture and language Academy to honour writers, artists and winners of the Pahadi Painting and Chamba Roomal Competitions here, the Chief Minister said that Himachal Art, Culture and language Academy was doing a creditable work in promoting the art and culture of the State by undertaking various activities.
Virbhadra Singh said that the Government was providing pension at the rate of `1000 per month to those writers who did not have enough resources. The Government had enhanced the prize money of the artists and writers from `31,000 to `51,000 and that of Shikhar Samman from `51,000 to `1 lakh, he said.
He honoured the Writers, Artists and Winners of different Competitions. For Hindi literature, the prizes were given to Suresh Sen Nishant, Murari Sharma and Dr Om Prakash Sharma while Nidhi Chawla won the prize for English literature and Dr Priya Sharma for Pahari literature.