Awardees of the Rajkiya Samman strike a pose along with cultural affairs minister Sudesh Mahto (in last row wearing a cap) at the Administrative Training Institute in Ranchi. Picture by Ashok Karan

Ranchi, March 31: Budding artistes in the state will soon have a new breeding ground.

Cultural affairs minister Sudesh Mahto today announced the government?s intentions of setting up a state-level kala kendra on the lines of the gurukuls of the past.

Mahto, who unveiled the plans during the function at the Administrative Training Institute here to felicitate artistes with the Rajkiya Samman, said the artistes will be trained at the kendra by gurus. The foundation stone for the centre will be laid in April, he added.

?The proposed kendra will be residential. It will have a hostel where students selected for training will be accommodated. The gurus will also be put up at the same place,? Mahto further said.

Elaborating on his plans the minister said the kendra will admit about 20 to 30 students in each session.

The site of the centre, however, is still undecided, he added. ?We are yet to decide on the location of the kendra. But it will be on the outskirts of the city, away from its hustle and bustle,? Mahto said.

The minister also declared his plans of convening a state-level seminar to brainstorm on the cultural enhancement of the state. All senior artistes and cultural activists will be invited to attend the seminar, where a collective decision about the cultural imperatives will be taken.

?We are planning to hold the seminar in April. We will try to lay the foundation stone of the kala kendra during the seminar in presence of all the artistes and cultural activists,? Mahto pointed out.

Incidentally, the government has recently set up an academy for teaching Manbhum Chhau.

In today?s programme, Mahto felicitated 17 state artistes with the prestigious Rajkiya Samman. The award comprised a shawl, a citation and a cash award of Rs 10,000. All the recipients, except Chhau exponent Guru Kedar Nath Sahu and thespian Ajay Malkani, were present on the occasion.

While the former is bed-ridden with illness, Malkani is busy with a film shoot in Mumbai. Bhargavi Sahu received the honours on behalf of her husband, while children Shashwat and Khushboo represented Ajay Malkani.

An emotional Bhargavi Sahu said she was delighted to receive the state honours for her husband. It was a good but delayed decision, she added.