Governing Body Meeting of North Zone Cultural Centre Held in Udaipur
Key Decisions to Promote Cultural Exchange
Chandigarh/Udaipur – The Governing Body meeting of the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) was held today in Udaipur under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Chairman of the Centre, Shri 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 of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, also joined virtually and shared valuable suggestions.
Several important decisions were taken to promote cultural exchange among states. It was decided to prepare detailed plans for organizing Kashmir and Ladakh Festivals in Chandigarh, Punjab Festival in Rajasthan, and Rajasthan Festival in Kashmir.
The meeting approved the construction of an auditorium at Kalagram, Chandigarh, under the Tagore Cultural Complex scheme. Around 40% of the project cost (approximately ₹5.6 crore) will be funded by the Chandigarh Administration. The decision was widely appreciated by all members.
Additionally, annual awards for folk and young artists from member states were approved. A total prize amount of ₹12 lakh will be awarded from the Chairman’s fund, which is a unique initiative of the Centre.
For the financial year 2024–25, an expenditure of ₹14.56 crore was approved, while ₹15 crore has been proposed as program expenditure for 2025–26. An establishment expenditure of ₹5.10 crore was also sanctioned.
The meeting emphasized expediting the ₹4 crore renovation work of the Centre’s office in Patiala and the construction of boundary walls on the allotted land. Instructions were also given to initiate the tender process soon for a multipurpose hall at Kalagram, estimated at ₹2.54 crore.
Members expressed satisfaction that the NZCC was entrusted with the nodal responsibility for cultural programs held at Kartavya Path on Republic Day, which it successfully executed with efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Around 2,700 artists participated in the event, which received a Special Jury Award. Notably, the program was completed at a cost of ₹15 crore against the approved budget of ₹22.5 crore.
In his address, Chairman Shri Kataria emphasized the importance of cultural exchange among states for preserving the nation’s rich cultural heritage. He also stressed the need to develop a strong system to identify and nurture young talent.
The meeting appreciated various cultural events organized by the Centre, including the National Craft Fair (Chandigarh), Geeta Jayanti (Kurukshetra), Patiala Music Festival, Harivallabh Music Festival (Jalandhar), Sindhu Darshan (Ladakh), Bharat Parv (Red Fort), Lokrang (Jaipur), and other cultural programs. Efforts to revive monthly theatre evenings and Teej festivals were also praised.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks, with all members expressing appreciation for the Centre’s activities and gratitude to the Chairman.
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