NAMCHI, (IPR): The second editionof the two-day Sikkim Kalakar Bharosa Sammelan
concluded in a grand fashion, at Town Hall, Namchi today.
Chief
Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay, also the chief patron of Sikkim
Kalakar Bharosa Sammelan, graced the day's event as the chief guest, and was
accompanied by the guest of honour Krishna KumariRai, former MLA.
In
his speech, the Chief Minister affirmed that it was a matter of privilege to
address the gathering of the artist's fraternity of the State and be among
them. Declaring himself as a 'Chief Servant of the State' working for Sikkim's
better future, the Chief Minister went on to mention that the State government
has been and always will be a driving factor for the development of the State
and will also provide necessary and needful support to the artist's fraternity.
Further
in his speech, the Chief Minister urged the artists of the State to have a
proactive approach to work and highlight the State's name to greater heights of
recognition in national and international platforms. He further went on to
state that each and every artist is an ambassador of the State, who should work
to highlight Sikkim to greater prominence and work to make the State ever-front
in the nation.
Talking
about the Sikkim Kalakar Bharosa Sammelan, the Chief Minister stated that the
event will be calendar event and is organised to encourage, support and uplift
the morale of the artists inclusive of the ones who have made a name for themselves
in prominent national and international platforms, along with it becoming a
platform to felicitate various artists in different categories of art and
culture.
The
Chief Minister assured the fraternity of launching the Sikkim Art, Culture
& Heritage Development Board that will solely work for the benefit of the
fraternity. Along with it, he also mentioned about Sikkim Student's Welfare
Board, Sikkim State's Sports Development Board, Sikkim Labour's Welfare Board,
Sikkim Farmer's Welfare Board and Sikkim Retired Employee's Welfare Board,
which have been established to work for the development and welfare of various
sectors in the State. He also mentioned about Chief Minister's Employment
Scheme that will work to support the entrepreneurs of the State in their
ventures.
Talking
about Chief Minister Discretionary Grant, which is disseminated to the general
public as a help towards their various needs, he mentioned that 11 music
institutes, 33 dance academies, 3 filmmakers and 1 painter from the State were
provided with the grant today. The grant has been provided to them to help them
operate their institutes and academies in hopes that in future they can produce
prominent artists in the state and also help the filmmakers to produce their
film projects.
Further,
the Chief Minister also mentioned about offering one award in each Gram
Panchayat Unit under Srawan Kumar Puraskar to the dedicated children who will
excel in taking care of their parents, irrespective of gender. He also
mentioned that in the upcoming Independence Day celebration this year and
Republic Day celebration next year, the artists will also be conferred and
honoured with State Awards.
Further,
the Chief Minister mentioned about Suswasta Bhawan being constructed in Siliguri
to help inhabit Sikkimese residents who travel there for their medical
treatments. He also stated that for the time-being, a rented 22 roomed
guest-house is being used under the title 'Aamako Godh' for the same purpose.
The
Chief Minister mentioned of the 500-beded hospital to be inaugurated by the
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on 21st May, 2025. He also mentioned
about providing gazetted appointment to the prominent artists of the State.
Lastly, the Chief Minister presented his well wishes to the felicitated artist
awardees and encouraged them to work proactively too in the future.
In
the process of felicitations, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and Krishna
Kumari Rai, former MLA, were also felicitated by the SKBS organising committee.
The
day also witnessed felicitation of Padmashree awardee Naren Gurung, a prominent
figure of the State in folk cultural music sector with filmmakers
Ugen Chopel Bhutia and Prashant Rasaily by the SKBS organising committee through
the Chief Minister.
Ustad Bismillah
Khan Awardees, Manoj Rai for creative and experimental music, Mingma D Lepcha
for creative and experimental dance and Bikram Lepcha, along with 13 community
awardees from different communities of Sikkim were also felicitated by the SKBS
organising committee through the Chief Minister.
Approximately
about 100+ artists who have been working in the State along with artists who
have gone on to perform and appear in various national and international
competitions and reality shows, belonging to different genre of performing arts
and culture were also consecutively felicitated by the SKBS organising
committee through the Chief Minister, Speaker SLA, Deputy Speaker SLA,
Ministers and MLAs.
The
dance team from Mumbai, Nrityaashis - Ashish Patil and troupe along with the
team's manager were also felicitated and honoured by the Chief Minister. The
troupe has given numerous contributions in the Indian-Classical dance genre.
Earlier,
the legacy of prominent artists of Sikkim, Padmashree Awardee Lt. LT Kazi, Lt.
Rahul Rai, Lt. Shanta Nepali, Lt. Deo Rup Rai and Lt. Dhurba Lohagan were remembered
and mourned by the attendees.
Earlier
Sushma Chettri, president All Sikkim Dance Institutes' Association and cultural in-charge
Voice NGO and SKBS organising committee addressed the gathering where she
shared her past and present experiences as an artist of Sikkim and thanked the
Chief Minister and the State government for their unwavering contributions and
support to help uplift the environment for the artists of the State.
Sikkim
Kalakar Bharosa Sammelan 2.0 was organised by Voice NGO Namchi with support of
SKM Cultural Wing, an event dedicated towards the empowerment of the local
artists of Sikkim and perseverance of the vibrant and dynamic cultural heritage
of Sikkim.
