Shimla: Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that 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.
The Chief Minister, while speaking at the Sammaan Samaaroh organized by the Himachal Art, Culture and Language Academy to honour the Writers, Artists and Winners of the Pahadi Painting and Chamba Roomal Competitions today, 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 with a view to encourage the writers and artists, the Academy was engaged in various activities including seminars based on folk culture and history of the tribal areas besides organising workshops for promoting the art and culture of the State.
The Academy was also publishing books based on the folk art and culture and provision had also been made to purchase books of the Himachali writers.
Chief Minister 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.
In the Art category, the Chief Minister gave away prizes to Prof. N.C Saxena, Om Prakash Sujanpuri, Prem Prakash Nihalta and Basanti Devi and also honoured the NGO Himachal Sanskritik Shodh Sansthan aur Natya Rang Mandal, Mandi for its efforts in popularizing the art and culture of the State.
In the category of Pahadi Painting Competition, the prizes were given to Anshu Mohan Sharma, Kamaljeet and Munu Kumar while in the Chamba Roomal Competition, Dinesh Kumari, Indu Sharma and Kamla Chaddha were the winners.
