LG Sinha on Monday inaugurated the ‘Shinon Meeras’, the Shina Cultural Centre at Gurez. At the inaugural ceremony, LG Sinha said the centre is a tribute to preserving and promoting the glorious artistic heritage of the Dard-Shin tribal community as it will provide a glimpse of Gurez’s rich culture to the world.
He said that India’s first museum for Dardis traces the journey of Shina culture, languages, and the Gurezi way of life. “I believe Shinon Meeras will become the centre of attraction for travelers visiting this best off-beat destination of India.”
Various sections of the museum will provide an opportunity to travelers, historians to explore tangible and intangible art and a vibrant space for the community to tell their stories and showcase traditions, the Lt Governor added.
At the inaugural ceremony, the Lt Governor shared the efforts of the UT Administration for the inclusive development of Gurez.
“Gurez has witnessed transformational changes in the last three years. Our dedicated focus was to strengthen physical infrastructure, ensure adequate skilled manpower and to provide a conducive atmosphere for new business enterprises to flourish,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor also highlighted the new initiatives taken to tap the tourism potential of Gurez.
“Tourism sector has witnessed a massive increase from 700-800 tourists in a year to 35,000 this year till 15th August. Today, the increased tourist influx to Gurez has strengthened the local economy and is providing large employment opportunities to the people.”