Divisional Commissioner (DC) Kaushal Raj Sharma reviewed the preparations of Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav (KSSM), scheduled to begin in this parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from September 1. Presiding over a meeting here on Tuesday, the DC also reviewed the preparations of all the committees formed for the successful organisation of the festival. He asked all the zonal in-charges to submit the complete plans soon so that necessary funds could be released.
Sharma stressed the need of inviting the general public apart from corporators, MLAs and other public representatives. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Development Officer (CDO) Himanshu Nagpal that under the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, four zones of the urban areas and three blocks including Sewapuri, Arajiline and Kashi Vidyapeeth of the rural areas will organise events in four disciplines of dance, singing, music and drama. The CDO also informed that in these events till now, about 40,000 applications for participation have been received.
He further informed that the competitions at panchayat level will be organised from September 1 to 5; block level from Sept 6 to 12, Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation) level from September 1 to 10 and district level from September 13 to 17. Then a mega event will be organised on September 27 at Rudraksh International Convention Centre (RICC) at Sigra. The CDO also informed that certificates of the participation in the festival will be generated online only and asked the concerned officers to ensure good arrangements for light and sound at all the venues.
In reply, the DC stressed the need for effective publicity of all the programmes venue-wise and date-wise through hoardings and posters etc in Vikas Bhawan, newspapers and social media so that everyone gets complete information about the programmes. He asked all the schools to give information so that no school could be left out and also asked to keep open registration for the left out candidates. He asked to issue certificates to all the participants on the same day of their participation.
Sharma also reviewed the preparations of second programme Sansad Khel Mahotsav, which will be organised from October 10 to November 2, for which online registration will be held from September 15 to 30, in which there will be a total of 31 events in five categories. A separate category has also been made for the Divyangjan (persons with disabilities). This festival will also be organised right from Panchayat to district level in view to promote sports and provide a platform to all. The DC directed the Yuvak Mangal Dals and Nehru Yuva Kendra units to compulsorily participate in sports and asked them to prepare the playgrounds so that most of the events can be held on the same grounds. He directed the concerned officers to complete all the preparations by September 20.
Besides, the DC also reviewed the preparations of Sansant Gyan Pratiyogita (quiz contest) in which knowledge of the participants about the religious and cultural glory of Kashi will be tested apart from questions related to the PM, famous personalities of the city, political persons, development works, government departments, geography of Banaras etc. The CDO said that so far about 3,000 questions have been prepared along with 20 themes and 40 sub-themes. The competitions will be organised from January 12 to 26 next year. The DC appealed to take questions and answers on these 20 themes with facts on WhatsApp.
Sharma also asked about the final event which is related to the knowledge of tourist guides relating to their speech, essay writing, reel apart from quiz on 11 categories including ghats of Banaras, Jainism, Buddhism, handloom, handicraft, temples, food etc will be tested.
The DC asked the concerned officers to finalise its theme soon as the event will be organised in February next year.
The officers of all the committees apart from ADM (Administration), ADM (City) and others were also present in the meeting.