Statesman News Service

KALIMPONG, Jan. 2. — Two renowned playwrights of this region and others have got together to tap local talent and project them at the national level. They have named themselves the North East Creative Corridor (NECCOR).
One of the initiators of the body launched yesterday, Mr CK Shrestra, said the main objective would be to make an impact in the creative field. “A few of the like-minded people, who are interested to foster local talents have decided to do something for the youths here”, Mr Shrestra said.
The other prominent member of the body is the Nepalese director Mr Tusli Ghimirey. Mr Shrestra said the youths here possess enough talent to compete in the national level. “The creative field in the hills now has been functioning in a very unorganised manner”, he said.
The NECCOR has decided to teach the technical know-how’s of the creative industry. The setting up of a production house, acting and music schools, choreography and recording studios are all in the pipeline”, Mr Shrestra said adding that even an international Nepalese film festival has been planned for sometime in May.
The body has even decided to approach the administrators of channel “Nepal 1” to focus more on these hill areas. “While corresponding with the ministry of information and broadcasting in demand for a vernacular channel in Darjeeling, the response we got from them was that the now functional ‘Nepal 1’ channel had been equally set for the Nepali speaking population of India”, he said.
Expressing resentment over the fact that the channel at present broadcasts news and features only in Nepali, its members confirmed that they would soon approach the channel supervisors.