Governing Body Meeting of North Zone Cultural Centre Held in Udaipur; Key Decisions to Promote Cultural Exchange
The Voice of Chandigarh
The Governing Body meeting of the North Zone Cultural Centre was held in Udaipur under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Chairman of the Centre, Gulab Chand Kataria. Representatives and nominated members from Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh participated in the meeting. The Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, also joined the meeting online and shared her suggestions.
Several important decisions were taken to promote cultural exchange. It was decided to prepare a detailed plan for organizing Kashmir and Ladakh festivals in Chandigarh, Punjab festival in Rajasthan, and Rajasthan festival in Kashmir.
Approval was granted for the construction of an auditorium under the Tagore Cultural Complex scheme at Kalagram, Chandigarh. Approximately 40% of the cost (around ₹5.6 crore) will be provided by the Chandigarh Administration. All members welcomed and appreciated this decision.
Additionally, annual awards for folk artists and young artists from member states were approved. A total prize amount of ₹12 lakh is provided from the personal funds of the Chairman and Hon’ble Governor, making it a unique initiative of the Centre.
The expenditure of ₹14.56 crore for the year 2024–25 was approved, while a program budget of ₹15 crore for 2025–26 was proposed. An establishment expenditure of ₹5.10 crore was also approved.
Discussions were held on the ₹4 crore renovation of the Centre’s Patiala office, and emphasis was laid on expediting the construction of a boundary wall on the allotted land. Instructions were also issued to initiate the tender process at the earliest for a multi-purpose hall at Kalagram, to be built at a cost of ₹2.54 crore.
The meeting expressed satisfaction that the North Zone Cultural Centre was entrusted with the responsibility of being the nodal agency for the cultural program held at Kartavya Path on Republic Day. The Centre successfully executed the program with efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The performance, featuring around 2,700 artists, received a Special Jury Award. Notably, the event was completed at a cost of ₹15 crore against the approved budget of ₹22.5 crore.
In his address, Hon’ble Chairman Mr. Kataria emphasized the need for cultural exchange among states to preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage. He also stressed the importance of developing a robust system to identify talent at a young age and provide them opportunities to showcase their skills.
The meeting also appreciated various events organized by the Centre, including the National Craft Mela (Chandigarh), Gita Jayanti (Kurukshetra), Patiala Music Festival, Harivallabh Music Festival (Jalandhar), Sindhu Darshan (Ladakh), Bharat Parv (Red Fort), Lokarang (Jaipur), and other cultural programs. The members also appreciated the monthly theatre evenings and efforts to revive the Teej festival in rural Punjab.
At the end of the meeting, all members lauded the Centre’s activities and expressed their gratitude to the Chairman. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks.
