The new Minister of Culture of Tajikistan, Matlubakhon Sattoriyon, recently met with a group of poets and writers, where she promised to raise their fees. This decision came after a representative of the Writers' Union complained that new literary figures were not emerging in Tajikistan due to low pay for poets and writers, a sentiment echoed by the writers themselves.
According to the Ministry of Culture, the meeting took place on February 29th and included prominent literary figures such as Ato Mirkhoja, Muhammad Goib, Rustami Vakhkob, Ato Hamdam, Jumah Kuddus, Sirodjiddin Ikromi, Azizi Aziz, Abdullohi Rakhnamo, Tolibi Lukmon, and others.
The Minister of Culture stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss current issues, find ways to address them, and strengthen cooperation between the ministry and literary representatives. Sattoriyon emphasized the importance of motivating writers and poets by providing them with a fair fee for their work.
To achieve this, the ministry revised the existing fee schedule and increased the remuneration amount within the allocated budget for 2024. Sattoriyon also mentioned that considering the market reality, the issue of author fees will be reviewed in the coming years.
Deputy Chairman of the Writers' Union of Tajikistan, Ato Mirkhoja, highlighted on his Facebook page that the fee amount is a crucial factor in the emergence of literary talents like Rudaki, Firdausi, Aini, Ulugzoda, and other renowned literary figures. The commitment to enhancing the financial recognition of poets and writers in Tajikistan is a positive step towards nurturing and celebrating literary creativity in the country.
