Kozhikode allocates ₹3 crore for literary initiatives

The Kozhikode Corporation has announced a budget of ₹3 crore to support its new status as a UNESCO City of Literature. Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed presented the budget for the financial year 2025-26, highlighting plans for various literary initiatives. Among the planned activities is an international conference on ‘Literature, Culture and Democracy’, which will invite mayors from other UNESCO Cities of Literature and Nobel laureates. Additionally, the Corporation aims to establish a Children’s Parliament, support for writers to translate their works, a literary circuit, and a reading street. Libraries are set to open in every ward. Schools and colleges will have dedicated literary sections, and book fairs will encourage reading among students. The Corporation will assist young authors in publishing their work in collaboration with organizations like the National Book Trust. A Day of Literature will be celebrated annually, and a new award will recognize significant contributions to literature. Moreover, a memorial for writer Vaikom Muhammed Basheer is being built with ₹7.37 crore from the state government. Plans are also underway to create a literary museum in honor of M.T. Vasudevan Nair. The old Fisheries Fund Board Office may be transformed into a literature-media museum, while Anakkulam Cultural Centre will serve as a hub for literary activities. The Corporation is also focusing on revitalizing local theatre culture by establishing student theatre groups and organizing workshops.