State govt hikes incentive for maiden books of young writers by 50 per cent

The state government has decided to hike the financial assistance to young writers of all five language academies for publication of their maiden books by 50 per cent. Accordingly, writers coming out with their first book will be given an assistance of Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 10,000. Gujarati Sahitya Academy chairman Bhagyesh Jha on Wednesday said that the decision was taken in a meeting of the Academy on Tuesday. He said that if the book contained less than 100 pages, the assistance would remain Rs 10,000 and if the book would be more than 100 pages, then the amount would be Rs 15,000 for the first time. “There is no increase in prize money on awards to be given on books,” he said.

Jha said the whole month of January was going to be a treat for lovers of literature beginning the first day of the month. Noted New York-based writer Madhu Rye and eminent story writer Varsha Adalaja would lead workshops on fiction at Junagadh and Gandhinagar during the month while a grand poetry meet is planned on January 1 and 2 at Bodeli in Vadodara district.

“We are going to tribal areas by organising this meet,” Jha said. On January 30, a meet will be organised at the Ambedkar University, besides other programmes like a programme in Bhavanagar district on Narsinh Mehta, he said. With this scheme of hike in assistance on first book by an author, the aim is to attract and encourage young talent in tribal areas towards literary activities, he added.