District Development Commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar today visited the Basohli Art Camp underway at Tourism Reception Centre Basohli.The Camp was jointly organized by the department of Tourism and Lakahnpur Sarthal Development Authority (LSDA) in collaboration with the district Administration. The event attracted large number of visitors who evinced keen interest in the art and exhibited work of artists.While speaking on the occasion, DDC said that the aim of organizing the camp was to promote famous Basohli art. He said that such events are important as they provided a platform to the artists for showcasing their talent besides propagating this traditional art form. Basohli Art Training has been added as vocational course in educational institutions of the district besides other skill development initiatives have been taken under different schemes, he said.Joint Director Tourism Visheshpal Mahajan said that the motive behind organizing art camp was to back the cause of restoring the glorious Basohli art.
He added that Basohli has immense potential of becoming a famous tourist cum cultural hub and important steps are underway to increase tourist footfall in the area.Master artists from Rajasthan and Himachal also exhibited their artwork and shared their expert knowledge among participants.Earlier Students of class 6th to 10th from different schools of Kathua and Pathankot participated in painting competition in which Simran Prashar of DPS Kathua clinched first prize and was awarded the cash prize of Rs 11,000. Divya Sharma of DPS Kathua bagged second position and cash award of Rs 7000 and third position was bagged by Shivakshi Sharma of St. Convent School Basohli and was awarded a cash prize of Rs 5000.Stalls of various departments including Social Welfare, Handicrafts, Handloom and other were also installed to create awareness among the visitors about the schemes and programmes of their respective departments for supporting artisans to nurture their art as well as to earn from it.Deputy Director Tourism Meenakshi Koul, SDM Basohli Dhirendra Kumar, CEO LSDA Darshan Kumar, CEO Pathankot Rajesh Kumar were present on the occasion.