131 JK writers to get financial assistance for publication

Srinagar, Sep 17 (UNI) Altogether 131 works in all eight languages spoken in Jammu and Kashmir have been selected for grant of subsidy for publishing them by State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages for the year 2008.

Giving details, Zaffar Iqbal Khan Manhas, Secretary Academy, said this year, more than 150 works for grant of subsidy were received in history, literature, visual, graphic arts, music, dance and drama.

However, only 131 have been selected on the recommendation of reviewers appointed by the academy for the purpose in eight languages spoken in the state.

He said that during the current financial year, the State Academy had sanctioned Rs 20 lakh as subsidy to writers. They were provided 50 per cent cast of book for publication.

Mr Zaffar noted that in absence of publishers and adequate number of buyers, the authors were finding it difficult to publish their work and recover the cost.

To help them out, a scheme was introduced 50 years ago to provide them subsidy for publishing their books, he added.

''It goes to the credit of the Academy that more than 95 per cent manuscripts of creative writings in different languages in state have seen the light of the day with the help of the subsidy provided by the Academy,'' he said.

Mr Zaffar said the languages in which the cases were approved for subsidy included in Kashmiri Dogri, Gojri, Pahari, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and English.

However, no manuscripts were received in Ladakhi, Balti, Purgi and Shina language for subsidy, Mr Zaffar said.

UNI BAS GL CS1518