Kolkata :

The Mamata Banerjee government is exploring the low cost media options to publicise its various schemes and projects across the state. With this in mind, the state information and cultural affairs department is giving much thrust on the ‘Lok Prasar Prokalpo’ that it has introduced not only to uplift the living standards of the folk artists across the state by giving them chance to perform in various stages organized by the government, but also to publicise government schemes through them.

The I&CA department has lined up several cultural programmes across the state this year to promote Bengal’s art and culture but officials said that the Lok Prasar Prokalpo could become the most effective in the government’s endeavor to promote Biswa Bangla brand.

According to the administrative calendar, the I&CA department has set a target to enroll 60,000 folk artists in the current year to bring them under the Lok Prasar Prokalpa.

I&CA department officials said that the objective of the scheme is to provide regular income to folk artists across the state and to preserve the art and culture of Bengal. In this way, the government thrives to publicise their various schemes and projects through the help of folk artists. “The process is going on to identify and select folk artists from across the state. The folk artist are being selected after audition and they are being given identity cards.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / by Suman Chakraborty, TNN / February 25th, 2015