Kabir Samman for Achyutan Nambudiri

Bhopal, Mar 16 (UNI) Eminent Malyalam poet Achyutan Nambudiri will be conferred the 2006-07 Rashtriya Kabir Samman given by the Madhya Pradesh government.

Culture Minister Lakshmikant Sharma told reporters here that Nambudari, who hails from Palakkad in Kerala, will receive a cash component of Rs 1.50 lakh and a citation as a part of the award.

He said New Delhi's Bishan Tandon will be bestowed with the national Sharad Joshi Samman to recognise his contribution in the field of journalism and short essays.

He will be given Rs 51,000 and citation as a part of the award.

The National Devi Ahilya Samman for 2007-08 for women artists in the field of tribal, folk and traditional arts will be conferred to Midnapur-resident folk artist Gauri Devi, who will receive Rs one lakh and citation as a part of the award.

The awards will be distributed at a ceremony to be organised in April. The dates for the award will be announced soon.

In the field of classical music, Mumbai-based classical singer Aarti Alankar will be conferred with the Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Samman.

She will receive Rs 51,000 and a citation as a part of the award.

As part of the state-level 'Shikhar Samman' awards for Madhya Pradesh-based artists, author and poet Devandra Deepak will be bestowed with 'Shikhar Samman' for literature, painter Shobha Ghare for arts and Bharatnatyam dancer Puru Dadhich for exhibition arts.

The artists will receive Rs 31,000 each as a part of the award.

He clarified that the Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Alankaran Samaroh will be organised in Dewas, but other award ceremonies will be held in the state capital.

Replying to a question, he said the government was considering raise the amount provided as a part of these awards. A decision would be taken in this regard soon.

UNI