Mamata Announces Rs 2.5 Cr For Setting Up A Baul Academy

18 January, Kenduli (Birbhum)

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today announced that her government would spend Rs 2.5 crore for setting up a Baul Academy.

Ms Banerjee said Birbhum is the land of bauls, who have for times immemorial spread the tune of peace and serenity.

We will redevelop the two temples dedicated to Jaydev, who was born in 1143, I have instructed the District Magistrate about the same, she said.

Speaking at the baul and folk festival at Kenduli here, the chief minister announced 42,000 artists in Birbhum district are now getting Rs 1,000 per month and 18,000 more would start getting the same soon. She felicitated twenty bauls on the occasion.

We are setting up a Baul Academy at Kenduli, to be named Jaydeb. We are setting up an eco-tourism park in Bolpur, which I have named Rangabitan (from the words rangamati and Geetabitan), she said.

Ms Banerjee said, Agriculture and industry are like siblings. We must give importance to both. Amra cholbo notun kore, Bangla gorbo notun kore. (We will march on a new path, create a new, progressive Bengal), she said.

I promise to come here for Joydev Mela every year. We will hold a Baul Utsav here during this time, the chief minister added.

The biggest attraction of Kendulis Joydev mela is that it features tradition folk culture with performances mainly by the baul community. The mela has been promoted nationally and internationally by the state tourism department.

Incidentally, bauls of Bengal an integral part of the heritage of the state will be showcased by the state government at the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi this year.