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Culture department to hold book fair in all districts

Correspondent

To give boost to sale of Oriya books at grassroots level

BHUBANESWAR: The department of culture has resolved to organise annual book fairs in all the 30 districts of Orissa during the forthcoming fiscal year. It has further mooted to start schools for teaching of Odissi dance in different districts.

Elaborating the plan of the department, Culture Secretary Gopinath Mohanty told The Hindu that the Government had come forward to host book fairs throughout the State to give a boost to publishing and sale of Oriya books at the grassroots level. A high-level committee is being set up with eminent writers and district collectors for finalisation of the plan, he informed and added that the district councils of culture and local literary bodies would be involved in organising the events. The department will provide financial support for hosting the fairs and efforts will be made to make those events self-sustainable during later years. Participating publishers will be provided the stalls at discount rates while as part of the government's special thrust on the underdeveloped districts, the department had decided to provide it free of cost, Mr Mohanty said.

The Secretary further said as part of the Government's preference for a participatory approach, non-government literary and cultural institutions would be encouraged to host the events in some districts in collaboration with the respective district administrations and district councils of culture while the department of culture will act as the nodal agency.

Distant dream

Odissi schools While Odissi dance has gained global recognition, teaching and training in Odissi is yet a distant dream in several parts of the state. To bridge the gap, the department of culture has mooted a plan to open such schools at district headquarters of the state, it was learnt.

The Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi and state-owned Guru Kelucharan Odissi Research Centre are working out the plan.

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