New Delhi, August 21: Manipur Governor Dr SS Sidhu has underlined that Art and Culture and Sports are the unique selling points of Manipur and drew the attention of the Centre as well as the NEC to identify it as thrust areas.

Speaking on the concluding day of the two-day Sectoral Summit of the North Eastern Council, wherein Art and Culture was the main topic of discussion at Vigyan Bhawan here, the Dr Sidhu said, "Culture and Sports are two main areas, which if nurtured, will touch a chord with the sentiments of our youth and bring them closer to the mainstream of India".

The Governor also sought financial support from the Ministry of Culture or the NEC to promote various traditional performing arts of the State.

Dr Sidhu also requested the Ministry of Culture that all centrally sponsored schemes be provided on 90:10 basis or 100 percent grant in place of funding pattern of 3:1 sharing basis between the Centre and the State.

Referring to the assistance of the Ministry of Culture towards the voluntary organizations for promotion and preservation of cultural heritage of the State, the Manipur Governor drew the attention of the Ministry for consideration to support more such registered voluntary organizations.

Dr Sidhu pointed out that one important area of concern was the lack of survey and research documentation of the areas of cultural values of the State in a systematic planned manner.

As such, he sought the support from the Ministry to the proposal, which the State Government had proposed to establish a self-contained documentation unit for taking up survey and research documentation of true picture of arts and artefacts, unique heritage of the people living in any parts of Manipur.

Dr Sidhu also urged the Centre to provide more support to the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal, which has been in existence since 1954. Prior to the discussion on Art and Culture, the Summit took the discussion on the pending parts on Sports for about 20 minutes today.

Participating at the discussion, the Governor drew the attention of the Ministry of Human Resource Development for encouragement with the financial support to the Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association, which had its own basic infrastructure for adventure sports.

Addressing the Summit Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said that the Manipur State Kala Akademi has to be shifted from the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex as the National Sports Academy has started functioning.

For effective functioning of the State Kala Akademi, he demanded sufficient funds from the Centre and the NEC as well.

He also placed the information before the Summit that the State Government had received a sum of Rs 8 crore out of Rs 16 crore from the Centre under the 11th Finance Commission for Restoration of Kangla Fort.

An Architect from the Delhi School of Architecture designed the architectural plan of the historic Kangla Fort. More than Rs 200 crore would be required in the completion of the project for which the Chief Minister sought the financial support for the Ministry or the NEC.

He also highlighted that folk dances like Lai Haraoba and tribal folk dances performed with traditionally aesthetic movements were an integral part of the cultural ethos of Manipur.

The Chief Minister also urged the Ministry of Culture that the State Government be informed of the voluntary organizations receiving support from the Ministry and a copy of the sanction order be made available for monitoring these schemes.

He sought for more support to those voluntary organizations for wider impact on promotion and preservation of traditional culture of the State.

Emphasizing on importance of culture, Ibobi Singh said that promotion of culture would pave way for spreading message of love and peace among the people and particularly among the youths.

He also drew the attention of the Ministry for consideration of assistance to the proposed Documentation Unit of Art and Culture in Manipur.

The Summit was presided over by the Union Minister of DoNER Mani Shankar Aiyar and attended by all heads of the North Eastern States.

Besides, Manipur Governor and the Chief Minister, P Sarat Chandra, Principal Secretary (Higher Education), P Bharat Singh, Commissioner (Art and Culture), S Sunderlal, Secretary (Schools Education) and K Mangi Singh Director (Planning) from Manipur attended today's session.

Comment