The Gujarat budget 2009-10, presented by Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala yesterday, includes number of cultural activities under the Youth and Cultural activities department.Following are some of the interesting activities that are approved in the budget.

Coffee table book on Culture of Gujarat

-As a part of celebration of formation of 50th year of Gujarat State, a coffee table book on “Culture of Gujarat” is to be published by Gujarat State Sangeet, Nritya, Natya Academy. The book shall contain 200 pages, A4 size in coffee table book format & shall have interesting, lucide & authenticate write-up of different aspects of culture of Gujarat. It shall also contain good quality pictorial presentation to the tune of 40% of the book. The quality of the book would be of an international standard. It is proposed to publish 3,000 copies of book and it’s cost would be Rs. 1,000 per copy. Thus, total cost to publish this book would be Rs. 30,00,000. The sum is sanctioned in the budget.

Seminar on Buddhist Heritage of Gujarat

-Government has decided to organize an International Seminar on the Buddhist Heritage of Gujarat in the financial year 2009-10 so that a global awareness is created about Buddhist monuments and remains of Gujarat. Eminent scholars of National and International repute will be invited.

The seminar will be organized by the M.S. University of Vadodara in collaboration with Government.
Therefore, an amount of Rs. 1,00,00,000/- (Rupees One Crore) is proposed to provide the grant to the organizer. M.S. University of Vadodara will organize the seminar. This sum will be allotted to M.S. University of Vadodara as Grant-In-Aid.

Volume-Royal Heritage of Gujarat

-In order to enhancement of archival consciousness and developing the concept of preserving Archival records being a cultural Heritage and to encourage the research & researchers it is proposed to publish a Volume-Royal Heritage of Gujarat (Princes of Gujarat) which will be based on the records deposited in the offices of Archives Department, for which Rs. 30,00,000/- has been sanctioned.

New 33 Taluka libraries

-Government has decided to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the formation of the State of Gujarat in 2010. On this occasion, it has been decided to achieve the golden goal of starting Taluka libraries with the help of panchayats in those talukas where library services are not available.

It is necessary to provide facilities like furniture, book, news papers, magazines in 33 taluka libraries along with provision to pay honorarium to the person who will provide service to run the library. for this purpose non-recurrent expenditure of Rs. 49,50,000/- at the rate of Rs. 1,50,000/- per library and recurrent expenditure of Rs. 8,91,000/- at the rate of Rs. 2,250 per month, per library for 33 libraries to be opened to achieve the Golden Goal is required to be incurred. Total provision of Rs. 58,41,000/- for 2009-10 has been sanctioned.

Computerization of libraries

-Two Central Libraries and 26 Government District Libraries are providing computerized services by “SOUL” software developed by INFLIBNET, Ahmedabad. It is proposed to purchase to purchase RFID System to provide modernized and effective services, for which Rs. 60,00,000/- is sanctioned.

Modernization of Gandhinagar library

-Modernization work of state Central Library, Gandhinagar is in progress to start Knowledge Center. Rs. 200 lacs will be expended For this work. Security services also required for security of this library building. Security services will be provided by GISFS. It is proposed to provide an amount of Rs. 6,00,000/- for the purpose.

47 posts approved for Gujarat Knowledge Centre

-Dr. Kaul. Director of the Delhi base institute ‘Derlnet’ appointed as an expert to suggest the planning of knowledge center. The expert has suggested that technical staff is required for knowledge center. Therefore, it is proposed to create new establishment of total 47 posts of various categories. The details of which is mentioned in statement No. I and II. An amount of Rs. 27,93,000/- is required for the purpose that has been sanctioned.