Membership for Writers Club soon, more works in pipeline: Gupta
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 12: There is a good news for the people of Jammu particularly those who are the lovers of art, culture and other such activities as after a long wait of years the Institute of Art, Culture and Language (JKAACL)—popularly known as Cultural Academy, is going to have a facelift and facilities on modern lines and as part of this exercise, the years old leakage from the roof of the Abhinav Theatre, which had almost become a chronic problem, has now been corrected and the entire infrastructure of the auditorium is being face-lifted.
It is pertinent to mention here that in rainy days activities at the oldest auditorium of Jammu suffered a lot due to the leak from the roof of Abhinav Theatre and the issue has been repeatedly highlighted in different columns of Daily Excelsior along with other shortcomings at the Academy.
Sources in the Academy informed that roof of Abhinav Theatre has now been repaired some 2-3 months back in the first phase of repair and renovation project with which possibility of leakage has been completely removed.
“Now inside work of the auditorium is going on in the second phase and it will include tile and other related works like whitewashing, polishing, renovation and repair of green rooms and footpaths outside the auditorium,” they maintained adding: “Lighting and curtain works will be done in the third phase and it may take some 3-4 months more.”
Under all these positive developments, the sad part of the story is that the elite Jammu Writers Club of the Academy is yet to start membership for writers and the Club building is still functioning as offices of the ‘Babus of the Academy’ right from the posts of Secretary, Additional Secretary to Editors, Cultural Officers and others.
Despite repeated attempts, Secretary JKAACL, Bharat Singh could not be contacted for comments.
Principal Secretary, J&K Culture Department, Suresh Kumar Gupta when contacted informed that repair and renovation work of Abhinav Theatre was underway and the entire campus of the Academy will be beautified soon.
“The entrance gate of the Academy will be improved and we have planned to install a big screen at the gate to display the schedule of future programmes while the ongoing programmes at the auditorium will also be showcased live there so that the passers-by may also watch these cultural activities,” he said adding that all this is being done on the directions of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha of J&K Union Territory.
The Principal Secretary also said that in coming months the Academy will get a new and attractive look.
“From next year we will make a calendar of activities which the Academy will organise throughout the year so that artists and other people related to those particular fields, especially those hailing from remote areas, will keep themselves ready for the programmes related to their fields,” he maintained adding: “Exercise for Kala Kendra was also underway and it may be activated by the next year.”
Gupta said that exercise for membership to writers at Jammu Writers Club would be started soon under which there will be more support and help for the writers apart from routine facilities.
He also assured to strictly look into the issue of poor and improper replies to Right to Information (RTI) queries at the Academy.
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