State govt initiatives revive folk art in Jangalmahal

The initiatives  taken by the state government in the past five years to revive the folk art have encouraged hundreds of young tribal boys and girls to keep their tradition alive.

The steps to resuscitate the folk art and dance will help Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress in the forth coming Assembly elections.    

Cross fire and gun battle was usual in parts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia for years before the change of guard in the state in 2011.Poverty and torture forced villagers to take up firearms against the state machinery.

Soon after the change of guard in the state, development of Jangalmahal became the top agenda of Trinamool Congress government.

Along with other development projects, revival of the tribal forms of arts and culture was given priority.  The change has been witnessed by Millennium Post during a visit to a village in the outskirts of Jhargram. The places, where it was impossible to walk freely due to Maoist insurgency, are now peaceful as girls from adjoining villages are coming to the village to take tribal dance lessons. The young girls have realised that there is a wide prospect if they learn traditional dance forms and this has changed their attitude. State government is providing retainership to support around 42,000 folk artists.  This would help earn them livelihood and at the same time it will prevent traditional art forms from being extinct.  “In most villages including Nayagram, Jamboni, Salboni and Bagmundi young girls and boys take classes in the evening. Power cut is no more a problem and,” she said.