New Delhi, Feb 15: Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan has said the government had taken up new initiatives to recognise young talent in the country. The minister, speaking yesterday at a function to felicitate National School of Drama (NSD) alumni who have been honoured with Padma awards, said at least one annual festival would be organised at all places of tourist importance across the country.
''This would give talented youngsters an opportunity to display their skills and at the same time help the government identify them,'' he added. Admitting that a lot of people who had rendered yeoman service in the field of art and culture had not been aptly rewarded, Jagmohan said the government was doing the needful in this regard.
''India is a country full of talent and the government is doing its best with the limited resources available to encourage these talented people,'' he added. The minister said, ''a park -- the 'Dara Sheiko'-- had been developed for students and they should enact a play on Dara Sheiko's life there which would be appropriate.''
''If the students go ahead and take up the challenge, I will foot the entire bill.'' Earlier, Padma awardees actor Naseerudin Shah, poet and theatre critic Nemichandra Jain, director Ram Gopal Bajaj and theatre personality and singer Rita Ganguly were felicitated at the function.
NSD director Devendra Raj Ankur welcomed the gathering.
Bureau Report