State govt taking steps to conserve manuscripts: CM

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 29

The state government is taking steps to conserve ancient manuscripts, epical books, puranas and folk musical instruments of the state.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat announced this today during a visit to a private museum of folk musical instruments set up by Jugal Kishor Petshali at Petshal in Almora district.

He said the Department of Culture would be instructed to run the museum in partnership with Jugal Kishor Petshali and would be treated as a state museum.

He said Kumoan University and Garhwal University had been instructed to start courses on the upgrade and conservation of folk musical instruments.

Rawat also viewed the handwritten Durga Sapt Sati and Garur Puran written in Kumaoni, including other artifacts and ancient folk musical instruments, during the visit. He praised Jugal Kishore for his initiative to run the museum on his own and said the government would support all such efforts.

The Chief Minister also paid a visit to SOS factory at Chitai village where products are being manufactured by using local herbs and plants like Bichhu grass, basil, kilmora and merry gold.

The Chief Minister requested Amrita Chigupha, the factory owner, to start training programmes so that more women could be benefited. He complimented the factory owner for exporting the products prepared from local crops.

Earlier, the Chief Minister released a souvenir brought out on great freedom fighter Victor Mohan Joshi at a function held at the Circuit House, Almora. He also listened to the public grievances and assured people of resolving them.