The Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani while inaugurating the National Children Assembly at Bal Bhawan in New Delhi today said that children are the custodian of our cultural legacy and announced that on 26th January next year a programme called Seema Darshan will be arranged for Indian soldiers. The Minister urged the Bal Bhawan officials to arrange Seema Darshan for the awardee artists where they will showcase the performance for our soldiers and troops.She expressed her appreciation for the concerted efforts made by all State Governments, school teachers and stakeholders in accomplishing the task of meeting 100% target of constructing separate toilets for boys and girls in schools within a period of one year since the announcement made by the Prime Minister, Shri Modi on August 15, 2014.
The Minister also announced that in December this year, a national level cultural festival titled `Kala Utsav’ will be organized where the groups of artists from various states across the country will showcase their performance in art and culture and the winner will be honoured with an award money of Rs. 5 lakh. She also called upon Bal Bhawan artists to participate in this programme with full fervour and enthusiasm. Delving into the theme `My Village, My Pride’, she called upon all the students present to include the name of their village, town or city while giving their introduction and also have a sense of pride while mentioning the name of place where they hail from.
While speaking on the programme of `Digital India’ launched by the Prime Minister Shri Modi, the Union Minister said that e-Book should be made where children’s performance can be preserved and uploaded on the website of National Bal Bhawan.She expressed appreciation for various performances given by the children in singing, dance, mime and various other forms.Dignitaries present on the occasion included Secretary, School Education & Literacy, Dr. S.C. Khuntia, Joint Secretary, Shri J. Alam, Director, National Bal Bhawan, Dr. Usha Kumari M.C. and also students, teachers and parents from across the country.