Writers’ welfare fund

Sir,
Refer news item ‘Omar gives nod to creation of writers’ welfare fund.
The decision of the State Government to create writers’ welfare fund and to enhance assistance to the artists and writers in the State is more than welcome.
The decision will make an impact on the lives of writers and artists here. In this age of price rise, it becomes very difficult for a writer to sustain on book writing or publish a book. No writer in the State can earn his livelihood through book writing.
They manage their lives either by working in Government departments or in private sector. The writers are mostly retired persons. And the quality of the books is also not of that standard which may buy them a living. Besides it gets very difficult for a writer first to spend so much of time in writing a book, then he has to publish it from own expenses which most of times he can’t bear. Then there is the dearth of distributors who can sell his books. Book publishing is a very complex process these days owing to rising cost of printing material.
In this situation, the financial assistance from the Government is the only way writers can seek help from.
The fate of the artist community is the same. The decision taken by the Government will certainly promote book writing culture in the State.
Yours etc….
A K Pandita
Muthi, Jammu