Fairs to be organised by local bodies: Dhumal

Hamirpur, Nov 3 (UNI) In a bid to promote people participation, the Himachal Pradesh Government is considering to handover the responsibility of organising major fairs and festivals to the local municipal bodies.

"The local administration would act as facilitators and ensure that the traditional sanctity of celebrations is not disturbed.

Besides, the administration authorities are over occupied in their other administrative responsibilities and such celebrations put additional burden upon them, which could be eased by entrusting the same to local bodies so that fairs and festivals are organised as per the traditions and customs of the respective areas," Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said while speaking in the concluding ceremony of the two-day state-level Hamir Utsav here last evening.

He said that during his earlier tenure, the state government had shifted responsibility of organising fairs to local urban bodies.

The government was seriously considering reverting back to the same policy after taking all related aspects into consideration.

Emphasising the need to provide appropriate platform to the local artists in all such fair and festivals, he said that presentation of local Hamachali culture on such occasions would help in preservation of rich cultural heritage of the state.

He appealed to the organisers of various fairs and festivals to promote local artists by providing them platform to exhibit their artists talent.

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister advised the organisers of the Hamir Utsav, which is celebrated to commemorate the creation of the district, to consider extension of the two-day festival for three days from next year onwards, so that people could enjoy an additional day of celebration.

UNI XC PS BP1741