(a) whether the Ministry of Culture have specific schemes to protect and preserve the cultural diversity of the North-east region of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any policy to preserve endangered culture and traditions; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)
(a) to (d) Ministry of Culture implements various financial grant schemes to preserve, promote and protect various forms of arts and culture including that of NE Region by way of extending financial support to individuals and organizations. However, there is no specific scheme administered by Ministry of Culture to protect and preserve the cultural diversity of the North-east region on the country. A statement indicating brief details of various financial grant schemes administered by the Ministry of Culture is annexed (Annexure-I).
Further, to protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and culture including endangered culture and traditions throughout the country, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. To protect and promote the rich and diverse traditions and culture of NE Region, the Government of India has set up North East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC) at Dimapur and Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) at Kolkata (Autonomous organizations under Ministry of Culture). Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura are the member States of NEZCC, Dimapur and Assam, Manipur, Sikkim and Tripura are also the member States of EZCC, Kolkata. These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes in North-east Region on regular basis. OCTAVE - a festival of the North East is organized by all seven Zonal Cultural Centres to promote folk culture of the North Eastern States. For this purpose, artists of the North East region are engaged by ZCCs to showcase the rich cultural heritage of North East. It may be noted that 93% of the budget allocation provided to the ZCCs is incurred on the folk and tribal art forms.
In addition, there is one autonomous organization namely Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies, Dahung (Arunachal Pradesh) and the following three grantee bodies located in the North Eastern States which are engaged in preserving and promoting the folk art and culture of the NE Region:-
i) Centre for Buddhist Studies, Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh.
ii) Namgyal Institute Of Tibetology, Gangtok.
iii) GRL Monastic School, Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh.
Annexure-I
BRIEF OF SCHEMES ADMINSITERED BY MINISTRY OF CULTURE
1. SCHEME OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTION OF ART AND CULTURE: The scheme consists of five components. The names and details of the scheme components are as given below:
i Repertory Grant
The objective of Repertory Grant Scheme Component is to provide financial support for all genres of performing arts activities like dramatic groups, theatre groups, music ensembles, children theatre etc. and imparting training of artists by their respective Guru on regular basis in line with Guru–Shishya Parampara. As per the scheme, support is provided to 1 Guru and maximum 18 Shishyas.
Amount of Assistance – Guru Rs.10000/- p.m. , Shishya – Rs.1000-6000/-p.m.
ii. Cultural organizations with National Presence
The objective of this scheme component is to provide support for cultural activities at Large scale National / International level. The Quantum of assistance under this scheme is up to Rs. 5 Cr.
iii. Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG)
The objective of this scheme component is to provide financial support to NGOs/ Societies/ Trusts/ Universities etc. for Seminars, Conference, Research, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music etc. The maximum grants provided under CFPG is Rs.5 Lakh (Rs. 20 Lakh under exceptional circumstances)
iv. Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas
The objective of this scheme component is to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the Himalayas through research, training and dissemination through audio visual programmes. The financial support is provided to the organizations in the States falling under the Himalayan Region i.e. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The quantum of funding is Rs. 10.00 lakhs per year for an organization which can be increased to Rs. 30.00 lakhs in exceptional cases.
v. Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Organization
Under this scheme component financial assistance is provided to the voluntary Buddhist/Tibetan organizations including Monasteries engaged in the propagation and scientific development of Buddhist/Tibetan Cultural and tradition and research in related fields. The quantum of funding under scheme component is Rs. 30.00 lakhs per year for an organization which can be increased to 1.00 crore in exceptional cases.
2. SCHEME OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CREATION OF CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE:
i. Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres
The objective of the Building Grant Scheme component is to provide financial support to NGO, Trust, Societies, Govt. Sponsored bodies, University, College etc. for creation of Cultural infrastructure (i.e. studio theatre, auditorium, rehearsal hall, classroom etc.) and provision of facilities like electrical, air conditioning, acoustics, light and sound systems etc. Under this scheme component, the maximum amount of grant is up to Rs.50 Lakh in metro cities and up to Rs.25 Lakh in non- metro cities.
ii. Financial Assistance for Allied Cultural Activities
The objective of sub-component is to provide financial assistance to all eligible organizations for creation of assets for enhancing the audio-visual spectacle for allied cultural activities to give firsthand experience of live performances on regular basis and during festivals in open/closed areas/spaces. Maximum assistance under the scheme component, including applicable duties & taxes and also Operation & Maintenance (O&M) costing for five years, will be as under:- (i) Audio: Rs.1.00 crore; (ii) Audio+Video: Rs. 1.50 crore.
iii. Financial Assistance for Tagore Cultural Complexes(TCC)
The aim of the scheme component is to provide financial support to NGO, Trust, Societies, Govt. Sponsored bodies, State / UT Govt. University, Central/State Govt. agencies/bodies, Municipal Corporations, reputed not-for-profit organizations etc. for creation of new Large Cultural Spaces such as Auditorium with facilities and infrastructure for stage performances (dance, drama and music), exhibitions, seminars, literary activities, green rooms, etc. The Scheme component also provides support for restoration, renovation, extension, alteration, up-gradation, modernization of existing cultural facilities (Rabindra Bhawans, Rangshalas, Multipurpose Cultural Complexes) etc. Under this scheme component, grant is up to Rs. 15 Crore (Rs. 50 Crore under exceptional Circumstances).
3. SCHEME OF SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP FOR PROMOTION OF ART AND CULTURE:
i. Scheme For The Award Of Fellowship To Outstanding Persons in The Field Of Culture
Upto 400 fellowships (200 Junior and 200 Senior) are awarded in a batch year to outstanding persons in the age group of 25 to 40 years (Jr.) and above 40 years (Sr.) in different cultural fields @ of Rs. 10,000/- p.m. and 20,000/-p.m. for the period of 2 years for cultural research.
ii. Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields
Upto 400 Scholarships are awarded in a batch year. Under this scheme financial assistance is given to young artistes of outstanding promise in the age group of 18-25 years for advanced training within India in the field of Indian Classical Music, Indian Classical Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts and Light Classical Music etc. @ Rs. 5,000/- p.m. for 2 years.
iii. Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research
The purpose of the Scheme Component is to invigorate and revitalize the various institutions under the Ministry of Culture (MoC) and other identified cultural institutions in the country, by encouraging scholars/ academicians to affiliate themselves with these institutions to work on projects of mutual interest. Upto 15 Fellowships (Rs.80,000/- p.m. + Contingency Allowance) and 25 Scholarships (Rs.50,000/- p.m. + Contingency Allowance) for a maximum period of 2 Years.
4. SCHEME FOR PENSION AND MEDICAL AID TO ARTISTES:
The objectives of this Scheme is to provide a pension of Rs.4.000/- p.m. to the old artistes and scholars (not less than the age of 60 years and annual income not exceeding Rs.48,000/- p.a.) who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters etc. but are now living in penury condition. The Scheme has also provision to provide medical aid facility to these Artistes and his/her spouse by covering them under a convenient and affordable Health Insurance Scheme of the Government. In the event of death of the beneficiary, the financial assistance is transferred to his/her spouse.
5. SEVA BHOJ YOJNA:
Under the Scheme of ‘SevaBhojYojna’ Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Central Government’s share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) paid on purchase of specific raw food items by Charitable/Religious Institutions for distributing free food to public shall be reimbursed as Financial Assistance by the Government of India. Free ‘prasad’ or free food or free ‘langar’ / ‘bhandara’ (community kitchen) offered by charitable/religious institutions like Gurudwara, Temples, Dharmik Ashram, Mosques, Dargah, Church, Math, Monasteries etc. are covered under Seva Bhoj Yojana.
6. MUSEUM GRAMT SCHEMES:
(i) Museum Grant: The aim and objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance for setting up of new Museums, strengthening and modernizing existing museums at the regional, state and district level. Conserving collections of artefacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Digitization of art objects in the museums across the country for making their images/catalogues available over the website. Capacity building of Museum professionals.
(ii) Scheme for promotion of culture of science (SPOCS): The aim and objective of the scheme is to portray the growth of science and technology and their application in industry and human welfare, with a view to develop scientific attitude and temper and to create, inculcate and sustain a general awareness amongst the people.
7. SCHEME FOR PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL RELATIONS
The scheme provides financial assistance to cultural societies actively promoting Indian Culture abroad to organize cultural activities depicting Indian Culture to help encourage interest in India among foreign nationals.
8. SCHEME FOR SAFEGUARDING THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE AND DIVERSE CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF INDIA
The objective of the scheme is to reinvigorate and revitalize various institutions, groups, individuals, identified non-MOC institutions, non-government organizations, researchers and scholars so that they may engage in activities/projects for strengthening, protecting, preserving and promoting the rich intangible cultural heritage of India.
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