As many as 38 folk artists working under Information & Cultural Affairs department were deprived from their deserved respect, grade and rights since 2007. It is my immense pleasure to be able to return all those to them, said Information & Cultural Affairs Minister Sushanta Choudhury in a programme organized by the Recreation Club of Information & Cultural Affairs department today. The programme was held at the Head Office of the department situated at Gandhighat to thank ICA Minister for the initiative to promote 38 folk artists from Grade 4 to Grade 3.
ICA Minister in the programme said, Tripura will soon have its own Film Institute with the cooperation of Satyajit Roy Film Institute for which the state government has decided to allot 5 crore 76 lakh rupees. This will generate job opportunities.
Their promotion process of the folk artists was not taken seriously in previous years, whereas the present government not only has opened the doors for promotion of the employees but also has increased their salary allowance and festival bonus for which nobody had to raise any demand. As our Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb says that our chair is not to suppress anyone. To work for public welfare is power in true sense. That is why it is our duty to do something for people. To do at least our duties properly. Like the Central Government has its Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the state government has its Information & Cultural Affairs department. The Information section of the department works to deliver news about the developmental schemes and works of the government to the public and the Cultural section of the department promotes the traditional mixed culture of the state and is working to restore the endangered culture. The department staffs are collectively doing all these works and I hope this continues.
The Minister assured to take necessary initiatives for the advancement of the department and to keep faith upon the present government. Based on the faith, a self-reliant Tripura and Ek Tripura, Shreshtha Tripura will be built.
Chairman of Tripura Khadi and Village Industries Board Rajib Bhattacharjee in the programme said, the government stands by the employees. Mentality to work has generated among the employees. Like the state government cares about the employees, it is duty of every employee to implement governmental schemes properly. He then lauded ICA Minister for taking the initiative to promote the folk artists of the department.
President of Bharatiya Mazdur Sangha also delivered speech in the programme. Welcome speech was delivered by Director of ICA department Ratan Biswas. ICA Minister handed over promotion letter to each of the 38 folk artists. The folk artists on the other hand paid their gratitude to the Minister through giving a certificate of gratitude. Cultural Assistant Puspal Deb was felicitated in the programme for his success in national level print making workshop. His work has also been uploaded by Lalit Kala Akademi on their Facebook page. Former Joint Director of the department Bishnupad Das handed over a cheque of 10 thousand rupees to the Minister and donated the sum to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. At the end of the programme, the Minister took part in Swachha Bharat Abhiyan with the department staffs.
