Dimapur, November 22 (MExN) : The North East Zone Cultural Council (NEZCC) Executive and Governing Body meeting, which was earlier slated for Sikkim, was held on 21st November 2007 at Shilpgram, Guwahati attended by Hon'ble Minister, Cultural Affairs and Heritage, Government of Sikkim, Secretaries and Officials of Department of Culture of all 8 North Eastern States along with artistes and craftsmen who are members of the Governing Body of NEZCC and with K Sankaranarayanan, the Governor of Nagaland & Arunachal Pradesh chairing the meet. The meeting was coordinated by Director, NEZCC, Hekali Zhimomi with focus on improving the functioning of NEZCC with key decisions taken such as to improve the infrastructure at NEZCC Headquarters at Dimapur, Shilpgram at Guwahati and to promote Cultural Exchange between the North Eastern States.
Participating in his first meeting after taking over charge as Governor of Nagaland and as Chairman NEZCC, K Sankaranarayanan welcome the members and informed how the late Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi who launched the Zonal Cultural Centers with clear vision to awaken peoples consciousness of the regions rich cultural heritage and to promote the rich diversity and uniqueness of various parts of the Country. Speaking on how the establishment of NEZCC has exposed the rich and exotic folk dances and songs of the region unknown to the rest of the Country for many years including benefiting through promotion of the regions art and crafts through its centre.
Appreciating the Governing body formed by eminent art personalities and dignitaries from the member states, Sankaranarayanan expressed optimism that the sincere and collective efforts will help the NEZCC to conceive policies and organize more meaningful programmes of the region. Informing the meet that NEZCC has been implementing the schemes of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the NEZCC Chairman emphasized that the conceptual ideas shared during the meet will help the NEZCC to implement these schemes in a much more innovative and effective manner creating sustainable activities for the regions artists.
Acknowledging the Ministry of Culture and all member state for making the required contribution to the Corpus fund, Sankaranarayanan also informed that financial position of the NEZCC is satisfactory for the moment. As of now all member States have paid their share of Corpus Fund except Arunachal Pradesh (Rs.1.00 crore) and Meghalaya (Rs.70.00 lakh) of which Arunachal Pradesh has also agreed to release their share of the Corpus Fund.
Sankaranarayanan also drew attention to the delay of the completion of NEZCC centers by referring to ‘the decision taken in the meeting of the Directors of the Zonal Cultural Centres held at New Delhi on 30th June 1986 the Architectural Design for the NEZCC Complex was drawn and approved by the Executive Board meeting of NEZCC held on 12th July 1988. The Master Plan of the NEZCC is conceived to make the NEZCC Complex as a fully equipped cultural complex with space for performance. Regional Museum for preservation of vanishing arts and crafts, Library and to provide accommodation to the visiting artistes, art personalities/scholars from the region and other parts of the Country’. The NEZCC Chairman impressed on the Ministry of Culture Government of India to take necessary action to complete the complex out of the fund earmarked for NE development.
Concluding his speech as Chairman NEZCC Sankaranarayanan shared the need to conceive innovative schemes to promote our Culture and Traditions such as incorporating in School Curriculum as counter challenge against the cultural onslaught from TV, Films and Internet and at the same time plan to use these mass communication mediums and Internet to promote, propagate and preserve our Culture.
.jpg)
