(a) whether the Government has any plans or has taken any steps to establish a Cultural Centre in Ladakh as announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister during his visit in Ladakh in 2018;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the time by which the Government is likely to do so; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken for preservation and promotion of Ladakhi Culture for organizing cultural programmes in the newly declared Union Territory?
MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)
(a) to (c) To protect, promote and preserve the various forms of folk art and culture throughout the country, the Government has already set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis all over India. The erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir (which includes the newly created Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh) is a member State of North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala. If UT of Ladakh provides appropriate land, the proposal can be considered as per the policy.
(d) Folk artists of Union Territory of Ladakh are invited by these ZCCs to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Ladakhi Culture in the cultural programmes/festivals organized by them all over India.
Besides, these folk artists of Ladakh are also invited to perform during major festivals like Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) organized at national level.