A two-day workshop for the Folk Media Groups of Information and Public Relations Department started in Himachal Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) near Shimla, today. The workshop was inaugurated by Media Advisor to Chief Minister Rohit Sawal. Addressing the workshop, Rohit Sawal described the role of folk artists as the most important to make general masses aware about government policies. He said that the Folk Media Groups are a key link between the government and the people living in rural and remote areas. Sawal said that Folk Media is one of the oldest techniques of song, dance and dialogues, but it still have the same influence in the present time as it was used to be in the old times. Folk artists connect directly with the common people easily through the local dialect, which has a profound effect on people's psyche.Rohit Sawal insisted that Folk Media should also maintain the uniqueness of its art but new experiments are also needed. With the changing time, the inclusion of new technology and new ideas is essential so that the folk artists can adapt themselves to the new era and easily make the people aware about government policies and achievements.
On this occasion, Director of Information and Public Relations Anupam Kashyap admired the functioning of Folk Media Groups. He said that the role of folk artists to reach the achievements of the government to the people was significant.The Department has been organizing such workshops for Folk Media Groups regularly, but this time the other departments of the Government have also been directly associated with the workshop. Anupam Kashyap said that the artists will be able to get information of different programs of the government under one roof.
While highlighting the importance of Folk Media Group, he said that in the remote areas where there is no access to other means, the Department's folk artists are working to reach the policies of the government to the people through Nukkad Natakas. Anupam Kashyap hoped that this workshop would prove beneficial for the folk artists and they would go to the villages and spread the programs of the state government so that the people could take full advantage of various schemes.In the first phase of the workshop, folk artists were given information on Disaster Management. Special Secretary & Director, Science and Technology, D.C Rana said that although it is not possible to stop the disasters but losses due to better management can be reduced. He said that Himachal Pradesh falls under most sensitive earthquake prone zone. In order to reduce earthquake damage, it is necessary to make earthquake resistant structures by adopting scientific methods in the state.In the second phase of the workshop, the Director of National Health Mission, Manmohan Sharma, highlighted the plans of the Folk Media Group's in the field of Health. He said that with changing times the trend of diseases is also changing which is a challenge for the department. He highlighted the programs of the government to control the growing trend of diseases and addiction due to lifestyle changes.Earlier, Director of Information and Public Relations, Anupam Kashyap welcomed Rohit Sawal. Mahesh Pathania, Joint Director of the Department thanked all guests for joining the workshop. As many as representatives of 53 groups from over the State were participating in the workshop.