Amritsar: Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today underscored the need to perpetuate the rich cultural heritage of the state and said a programme has been started to "save our glorious legacy" in every village. 

Addressing a gathering at an event to commemorate the 141st birth anniversary of poet Dhani Ram Chatrik at Lopoke village, he said this function was part of a programme chalked out by the state government to preserve the centuries old culture

The state tourism and cultural affairs minister said, "It is unfortunate that our younger generations are forgetting the great heritage of our state." However, the state government and Punjab Arts Council has taken up the challenge of making the younger generation abreast about the state's culture and heritage, Sidhu said. 

The council has been asked to campaign in more than 12,000 villages about saving the state's culture, he said. Sidhu also announced a grant of Rs 1 crore to Punjab Arts Council for the campaign. Chairman of Punjab Arts Council Surjit Patar also attended the event and paid floral tributes to poet Dhani Ram Chatrik.