Minister for Finance, Labour Employment and Culture Dr Haseeb Drabu has said that the Government intends to set up a an integrated Kashmir Cultural Centre on the pattern of India International Centre, Delhi so that a platform can be created for the local thinkers, writers and artists for exchange of ideas.The Minister was interacting with the officers during his visit to the Central Office of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages to review the working of the institution besides discussing the possibilities of fast-pacing the activities related to propagation, preservation and promotion of J&K’s distinct culture.Secretary, Cultural Academy Dr Aziz Hajni, Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) and other senior officers were present on the occasion.He said the existing complex of the Cultural Academy would be integrated with the Old Complex of the Board of School Education to create Kashmir Cultural Centre, which would come up as a hub of culture and art.
Dr Drabu directed the officers of the Academy to fast pace their activities so that the rich heritage of the State can be propagated and preserved in a better and scientific ways which will intern be helpful to the researchers, academicians and also serve as a referral point to the posterity. “The efforts should also be to project the work done by various scholars and researchers on Kashmir especially those done during the medial times so that the missing links of the Kashmir’s history can be connected properly thereby bringing the holistic perspective before the researchers and historians”, he added.The Minister also asked the Academy to explore the ways by which they can tie up with other agencies and players of the field so that the new vistas can also be explored in the field of publishing and carrying out the culture related activities. He said that the Government is committed to ensure that the culture and its related facets get the requisite fillip and in this regard every possible assistance would be provided.
Dr. Drabu also went around the premises of the Academy including the Guest House, Sub-Office and also the old State Board of School Education complex which has been allotted to the organization. He directed the Architect to undertake the mapping of the area and prepare a comprehensive plan for integrating the whole area into a cultural centre which would be having a library, meeting halls for the writers besides having cafe lounge and also Guest House for the writers, artists coming from other parts of the country and outside.Later, the Minister inspected the pace of work being done on the Tagore Hall and directed the officers of JKPCC to ensure the timely completion of the project so that the budding artists can have the requisite plat form for show casing and honing their talent. He said that due to the non-availability of the requisite infra in the State our talent is facing lot of difficulties and it is the duty of the Government to ensure that they get the requisite facilities.