Shillong: A state-of-the-art museum will be inaugurated at the State Central Library Auditorium Complex in Shillong next month.
Informing this after chairing a review meeting on Friday, Arts & Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh said, “I called it state of the art because we used the latest technology and a visit to this museum would help for visitors and people of Meghalaya to unravel the mystique, the beauty, the history, the culture, the various trades, life of people in the villages – all are being displayed in this museum, which will be functional by June, this year.”
He said that once this project begins, the Library Auditorium will be shifted to the current site located at Rilbong.
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“When the State Assembly is shifted hopefully by September-October this year, we should be able to shift the auditorium to Brookeside, which is under the custody of the Department of Arts & Culture.”
The minister further informed that the work for the construction of the Tagore Museum has been handed over to the MTDC at a cost of around Rs 14 crore.
Further, Lyngdoh announced the government’s decision to set up more cinema halls across the state, beginning with the halls belonging to the Department of Arts & Culture at Jowai and Tura within the current fiscal year, and the other district headquarters will be covered subsequently.
“In order to cater to the needs of the public specially to cater to the local film industry, we are entering into an agreement whereby two more cinema halls in the state capital will be commenced work soon one of course is already ready, which is called the black box located at Lariti complex, New Shillong and the other will be at the Library Auditorium,” he said.
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Asked, Lyngdoh said, “I want to share this with you that Meghalaya is the only state that has a government-sponsored OTT platform. The OTT platform has become very popular, and today it has a global audience. All movies made in Khasi, Pnar and Garo are screened. Songs and music videos are on display and therefore, it is a major initiative the state government has taken up to support the artistic and musical fraternity.”
He also informed that the government is considering coming up with a state film award very seriously and said, “Once a cabinet draft memo is ready, we’ll take it up with the cabinet.”
Furthermore, the minister informed that the government is also moving ahead with the resumption of land belonging to the Department of Arts & Culture at the Tribal Research Institute, Mawlai, and plans are afoot to complete the shifting of the CRPF camp to New Shillong.
“This will hopefully happen by year’s end,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the government has sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the upgradation of the State Central Library.
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“And also to inculcate the reading habit, we are also working with an NGO under the plan of Kali Kit Kot, which is a vehicle that is mobile and has a library attached inside of it,” he added.
(Newmai News Network)