KT NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, Sep 16 : 131 familiar works in eight languages spoken in the Jammu and Kashmir, written on different aspects of research, languages and literatures mentioned in the State Constitution have been chosen for grant of subsidy by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages for the year 2008.
Orders in this regard were issued today from Academy Secretariat, here this afternoon.
Giving details , Zaffar Iqbal Khan Manhas, Secretary Academy, stated that this year we had received more than 150 works for subsidy in, History, literature , visual, graphic arts, music, dance and drama and only 131 have been selected on the recommendation of reviewers appointed by the academy for the purpose in eight languages of the State.
He said that during current financial year the State Academy has sanctioned Rs.
20.00 lakhs as subsidy the 50% cost of book to be published by the writers and the amount of subsidy sanctioned shall be paid direct to the writers for publication of their manuscripts with in a time frame.
Zaffar said that in absence of publishers and adequate numbers of buyer readers, the authors were finding it difficult to publish their manuscripts and recover the cost.
With a view to offset their production cost, the scheme was initiated 50 year back to provide them subsidy for publishing their books.
It goes to the credit of the Academy that more than 95 percent manuscripts of creative writings in different languages in J&K have seen the light of the day with the help of the subsidy provided by the Academy, He added.
He said about 150 reviewers in 8 languages have recommended only 131 cases for financial Assistance in Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri , Pahari , Punjabi , Urdu , Hindi and English.
No manuscripts were received in Ladakhi, Balti, Purgi and Shina language for subsidy, Zaffar said.