Bhubaneswar: Traditional folk art and culture is the life and future of a nation. There is no other medium as effective as folk art in creating awareness, said 5T and Nabin Odisha chairman V.K. Pandian today.
While attending the state conference of Block and District Folk Art and Culture Association representatives at Lok Seva Bhavan, Pandian said we have to attract the youth towards folk art to take culture to new heights.
The development of artistes is required for the survival of folk art, he pointed out.
He informed that the government will give good news to the artists in next 3 to 4 months. As Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is an art lover, he always emphasized the development of artistes. Panian said that the CM has decided to empower the artiste union in a similar framework as Mission Shakti has become a social movement.
All unions will be included in 5T and Offices will be opened at block and district level, he informed.
The artists have a major role in building a new Odisha (Nabin Odisha).
Based on an experience when he was the district Collector in Ganjam, Pandian said folk art played an important role spreading awareness on AIDS. The number of AIDS patients in Ganjam district. The role of folk art was admirable for this and impressive results were out within two years.
A souvenir was launched by some veteran personalities advising the artistes to create awareness through folk art.
On the occasion, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Odia Literature and Culture Sujata Rout Karttikeyan, Director Dilip Routray, Special Secretary Madhusudan Das, Joint Secretary, Mission Shakti Vinod Jena, Joint Director of Culture Department Atasi Dash, Subodh Acharya, Deputy Director Suchismita were present.
