Haryana Sahitya Ratan Samman instituted

Chandigarh, Jan 29 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced to institute an annual lifetime achievement award namely 'Haryana Sahitya Ratan Samman' which would be conferred on the literary person of the State who had devoted his entire life for the promotion of Haryanavi culture and literature.

The Chief Minister, who is also the Chairman of Haryana Sahitya Akademi made this announcement during the function organised to release, Literary Calendar-2008.

The awardee of Haryana Sahitya Ratan Samman would be given a cash prize of Rs two lakh, a shawl and a commendation certificate. The literary calendar has been published by the Haryana Sahitya Akademi.

The Director of the Akademi, Desh Nirmohi said, 'Pathak Manch' would be set up at the district level which would serve as cultural and literary centres of the districts.

He said the Akademi was committed to bring the folk literature to the main-stream and was focusing all its attention to promote literary activities, especially in rural areas.

Mr Nirmohi said it was for the first time that Akademi would also publish a directory of literary persons of the State.

A state-level inter-college story and poetry competition had been organized to promote the budding writers. A camp was organized for 36 best writers selected from this competition. Out of 36, six writers had been awarded and 30 others were given certificates.

The Akademi had also started publishing a new magazine namely 'Mhara Haryana' to develop and conserve Haryanvi language and its folk literature.

UNI JN VN AKJ RN2036