Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 21: The state tourism ministry Tuesday called for the need to give a push to folk art from different states in order to bring them at par with contemporary popular art forms and conserve the cultural heritage of the states.
Tourism minister Ashok Panda attended the general body meeting of the Eastern Zone Cultural Centre held at West Bengal Governor Kesari Nath Tripathy’s residence in Kolkata.
The meeting was chaired by the WB Governor who is also the chairman of the cultural body. The meet was attended by representatives from Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Orissa, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal and Andaman Nicobar Islands.
“The need of the hour is to popularise folk arts of states along with the popular contemporary art. Both art forms need to be given equal importance by authorities. Moreover, the Central government should also help in promoting folk art by allowing other states to host cultural events at their places instead of big events being held at the national capital,” Panda said.
Tourism secretary Arabinda Padhee who was also the part of the delegation spoke of the need to escalate the central corpus for the cultural body’s events. A team from Orissa comprising the tourism minister, secretary and other reputed artistes from the state participated in the meeting.
Meanwhile Governor Tripathi said: “The event was successful in bringing different states together. The Central and state governments should work in tandem to ensure social harmony among different states is maintained through these meetings.”
EZCC is an autonomous organisation under the Union ministry of culture.