MINISTER OF CULTURE (SMT. CHANDRESH KUMARI KATOCH)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 251 FOR 11.12.2012 REGARDING
CULTURAL AWARENESS PROGRAMMES
(a) Yes Sir.
(b) The Ministry of Culture organizes various programmes / events to create cultural awareness and promote the rich
cultural heritage of the country amongst the masses in-keeping with its mandate to preserve and promote all forms of art
and culture.
Various programmes to create awareness about tangible and intangible heritage of the country are conducted and supported
by the Ministry in the form of exhibitions, dance performances, seminars and lectures, publications, observance of
centenaries and anniversaries of important national personalities, promotion of shows of visual and performing arts
through its institutions like Museums, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi and Zonal Cultural Centres. State-wise
details of the number of programmes conducted by the Zonal Cultural Centres in the last three years are given in Annexure-A.
In addition, the schemes of the Ministry provide financial assistance to programmes in all spheres of art and culture,
promoting better awareness of the cultural heritage of India.
The Ministry also gives grants to autonomous institutions like registered societies and trusts for conducting such
functions to create cultural awareness. Detailed reports of the cultural activities undertaken by the Ministry and its
institutions are included in the Annual Reports of the Ministry which are available in the Parliament House Library.
In the field of tangible heritage the Ministry is engaged in protection of all centrally protected monuments of national
importance through the Archaeological Survey of India. The Archaeological Survey of India also conducts various programmes
and events to create cultural awareness amongst the masses including the students. Details of such programmes are given in
Annexure-B.
(c) Cultural awareness programmes organised by the Ministry of Culture by itself and through its associated institutions
provide tangible and intangible benefits for the masses. The achievements as a result of these programmes include tangible
benefits such as increase in number of visitors, cleaner monuments and public spaces and provision of employment to people
as well as intangible benefits such as knowledge and awareness about country’s cultural heritage, heightened community
feeling, development of cultural identification and national pride.
(d)&(e) Yes Sir. The National Commission for Heritage Sites Bill, 2009 inter-alia provides for establishment of a
National Commission for Heritage Sites (NCHS). The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in February 2009 and was referred
to the Standing Parliamentary Committee which submitted its Report to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha in November 2009. The
National Commission for Heritage Sites to be established under the new legislation will inter-alia have the mandate to
recommend to the Central Government or State Governments on short and long term policies in respect of conservation,
protection and management of heritage sites and formulation of guidelines for conservation and management of heritage sites.
The matter is presently under consideration of the Government.
