EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar | Friday, May 29 2009 IST
Despite paucity of funds, the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (AACL) organised more than 500 programmes and published more than 100 titles in Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Pahari, Punjabi, Ladakhi, Balti , Urdu and Hindi in 2008.
This information was given to chairman of State Financial Commission (SFC) Mehmood-ur-Rehman during his visit to AACL at Lal Mandi, on the bank of rive Jehlum here today.
Mr Rehman and other members of the commission inspected various branches of the Academy, including the Painting and Manuscripts sections, a spokesman of the Adacemy Dr Javid Rahi said.
Secretary, AACL Zaffar, Iqbal Manhas apprised the commission that the State Academy, which besides Art and Culture, is promoting nine regional languages of the state, is an autonomous body fully funded by the government. The commission was also informed that the Academy had organised more than 500 programmes and published more than 100 titles in Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Pahari, Punjabi, Ladakhi, Balti , Urdu and Hindi.
The Secretary also informed commission that Academy needed proper patronage of government to restore its autonomy and financial viability.
He said, due to the paucity of funds, various projects could not be initiated.
The renovation work of Tagore Hall, construction of Art Gallery in Srinagar, Recording Studio, Strong Room for Paintings, digitalisation and purchase of manuscripts, Documentation of Folk lore, Lab establishment of Film units in Jammu and Srinagar were still in waiting due to non-availability of financial resources.
Dr Rahi said the commission agreed to furnish a comprehensive report regarding financial viability and grant of autonomy to State Academy and to the government.
He said the SFC is looking into issues relating to equitable distribution of resources, employment backlog, micro economic stability, problems of acute debit and tapping of various potential areas for maximizing internal resource mobilisation. It is also looking into the issues of vertical and horizontal devolution of resources from the State to urban and rural local bodies.
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