Question : Funds for Theatre

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3650
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2015

FUNDS FOR THEATRE

3650: SHRI ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE:

Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has chosen some theatre personalities for award from various States of the country including West Bengal and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has made budgetary provisions for the cooperation to theatres and if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated and utilized in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has sanctioned and disbursed funds to the Corus theatre of Kolkata in 2012-13 for promotion of theatre culture; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM AND
MINISTER OF STATE FOR CIVIL AVIATION
(Dr. MAHESH SHARMA)

ANSWER

(a) Yes, Madam. Sangeet Natak Academy, an autonomous organization of Ministry of Culture has awarded a number of theatre personalities from different States of the country including West Bengal, since its inception. Shri Murari Ray Choudhury and Shri Anubha Fatehpuria, from West Bengal have been awarded for Theatre Music 2012 and Yuva Puraskar in Acting for 2013-14 respectively during last three years.

(b) Ministry of Culture through its various schemes provides grant-in-aid to all types of artists viz. Drama, Dance, Music, Acting etc. and are not specific to theatre personalities only and accordingly the budgetary provisions are made. However, Sangeet Natak Academy during the last 3 years has allocated Rs. 18.50 lakh for Rang Prithibha Punjab in Patiala during 2012, Rs. 160 lakh to Natya Samagama, Agartala and Rs. 5.52 lakh per year since 2011 for training programme in Prahlad Natak.

(c) No, Madam.

(d) Does not arise.

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