<br/>Three artistes from Manipur have been selected for the Ustad Bismillah Yuva Puraskar 2009 of Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. Moirangthem Meina Singh in Nata Sankirtana, Hanglem Indu Devi in Manipuri dances and Takhellambam Shyamkanhai Singh in Wari Leeba from Manipur was among 32 other young artistes of India slected for this coveted award.<br/><br/> Manipur Information Centre, Joint Director, Meghachandra Kongbam said Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar carries a prize money of Rs 25,000. The Yuva Puraskar will be presented at a special ceremony, presided over by the Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi in the coming months.<br/><br/> The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, given to artistes below the age of 35 years, was introduced in the year 2006 with the objective of identifying and encouraging outstanding young talents in diverse fields of performing arts and giving them national recognition early in their life. Nine artistes were selected in the field of music, eight in dance, as many in theatre and seven in traditional-folk, tribal dance, music, theatre and puppetry. <br/>