1. CHHOU FESTIVAL
Chhou Festival is organised by the Department through distribution of different musical instruments such as " Dhols, Flutes, Chhou Mask of "Durga-Asur" and "Lion" etc to the Chhou Cultural Troupes.
The festival was organized by District Administration of Purulia from 24.02.2018 to 26.02.2018 in the two Blocks of Purulia, "Chasmore" and "Balarampur" and a fund of Rs. 20.00 Lakh has been directly placed by the department in favour of District Magistrate, Purulia for organizing the festival with the help of local cultural troupes.
This programme is continued in every year.
2. PROMOTION & PRESERVATION OF KURUKH LANGUAGE
Kurukh language has been listed as an endangered language by UNESCO. Hon'ble Chief Minister, West Bengal has kindly recognized the language as official language of the state of West Bengal in the financial year 2016-2017. Accordingly the Tribal Development Department are taking different steps for protection, preservation and promotion of the language by holding different awareness programmes and workshops. Kurukh is spoken by around 2 million oraon(s) in the country. The Oraon(s) are the second largest tribal community in the State of West Bengal. In consonance with the desire of the Hon'ble C.M. this department has already allocated Rs. 35 lakhs to Cultural Research Institute for holding different programmes for promoting the language during 2018-19. The Director, Cultural research Institute has been entrusted with the responsibility of holding workshop and seminar for the purpose in consultation with different Kurukh Socities of the state. Proposals are being invited also from the concerned district Magistrates.
3. BISHNUPUR MELA
Products of ST SHGs and tribal artisans (Art & Craft) are displayed and sold in the said mela for providing financial support to the poor tribal artisans. Different ST cultural troupes perform different cultural programme in the said mela as a part of promotion of traditional cultures of the STs. 30th Bishnupur Mela, 2017 was held at Bishnupur from 23rd December, 2017 to 27th December, 2017 for which financial support of Rs. 10,00,000/- was provided by the department to the District Magistrate, Bankura.
4. MUKUTMANIPUR MELA
Products of ST SHGs and tribal artisans (Art & Craft) are displayed and sold in the said mela for providing financial support to the poor tribal artisans. Different ST cultural troupes perform different cultural programme in the said mela as a part of protection, promotion and Development of traditional cultures of the STs. 20th Mukutmanipur Mela, 2018 was held from 19th January to 21th January, 2018 with the financial support of the Tribal Development Department. An amount of Rs. 15,00,000/- was utilized for this purpose.
5. DISTRIBUTION OF DHAMSA MADAL:
Dhamsa, Madal, Bansi & Ghanta are the chief traditional musical instruments of the major tribal communities of the state like Santals, Oraons, Mundas etc. During 2017-18 Tribal Development Department accorded approval for distribution of said instruments to the different ST cultural Troupes of State through the West Bengal Tribal Co-Operative corporation. During 2017-18 Govt. approved 450 sets of musical instruments for which District-wise allocation approved by the department was as under. Rs. 64.50 lakh was utilized for the purpose during 2017-18. During last three years 972 Tribal Groups have been distributed Dhamsa, Madal and Flutes.
SETS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS DISTRIBUTED DURING 2017-18 :
|
Districts |
Distribution |
Districts |
Distribution |
|
Malda |
40 |
Dakshin Dinajpur |
50 |
|
Siliguri |
16 |
Uttar Dinajpur |
15 |
|
Purulia |
46 |
Alipurduar |
25 |
|
Paschim Medinipur |
50 |
Jalpaiguri |
40 |
|
Burdwan |
50 |
North 24 Parganas |
10 |
|
Birbhum |
18 |
South 24 parganas |
10 |
|
Bankura |
42 |
Hooghly |
10 |
|
Murshidabad |
28 |
|
|
|
Sub Total |
290 |
Sub Total |
160 |
6. SRIJAN UTSAV:
SRIJAN UTSAV is held for promotion and preservation of popular and Traditional Folk Festival and Arts of Tribals in Purulia Districts. During 2017-18 Govt. in the Tribal Development Department provided financial support for 23rd Srijan Utsav to the tune of Rs. 2,00,000/- only for the Folk and Tribal Festival of the Bengal held at Srijan Bhumi under Manbazar-II Block, Purulia from 04.11.2017 to 06.11.2017.
7. PROCUREMENT OF SANTALI BOOKS FOR RURAL LIBRARY
Tribal Development Department has already taken various steps for promotion and development of one of the oldest language of the state, Santal Language. Santali Academy is implementing such schemes for which financial support is provided by the TD Department. With a view to grow interest for study in Santal language (Olchiki script) in the state TD Department has earmarked Rs. 20 lakhs in 2017-18 for procurement of Santali Books for the Rural libraries of the state and the responsibility of implementation of the scheme has been entrusted with Santali Academy.
8. PORAMATIR HATT
As a part of increasing employment oppurtunities and promoting the cultural activities in the district of Bankura 'Poramatir Haat ' is being organized in Bishnupur Sub-Division of Bankura District in every Saturday to showcase and promote terracotta products and other artecrafts of the Tribal artisans . This is a successful weekly fair where the tourists and common people visit to see and purchase the artecrafts made by the Tribal artisans of Bankura.
Rs. 11,44,826/-( Rs. Eleven lakh forty four thousand eight hundred twenty six) has been released for setting up infrastructural facilities like stage, gallery for performing cultural programme , construction of Bio-Toilet and installation of Drinking water source (Sub-mersible). The weekly fair is held at the vincity of 'Bishnupur Jor Mandir' of Bishnupur Sub-division, a renowned place of Tourists importance.
The department have decided to continue the support for this novel gesture of the district from next fiscal and will explore the possibility of holding such activities in other tribal dominated districts of the state like Jhargram, Purulia , Alipuduar, Paschim-Medinipur etc. through the District Administration .