Question : Development of Culture of Tamil Nadu

(a) the details of the steps taken during the last three years to develop the culture of Tamil Nadu;

(b) whether the Government has any proposal to develop Mattur Dam and Yercaud in Salem District; and

(c) if so, the details thereof ?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM

(PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a): The steps taken by Ministry of Culture during the last three years to develop the culture of Tamil Nadu are given in the annexure.

(b) to (c): The Ministry of Jal Shakti has informed that no such proposal has been received in the Ministry.

ANNEXURE

Reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4682 for 23.03.2020 relating to development of culture of Tamil Nadu.

(i) ZONAL CULTURAL CENTRES (ZCCs)

To protect, promote and preserve the various forms of folk art and for development of culture throughout the country including Tamil Nadu, the Government of India has 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. Tamil Nadu is the member State of South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), Thanjavur. The funds released released to ZCCs are not State/UT wise. However, funds released to SZCC during the last three years for this purpose are as under:
Sl. No. Year Amount (Rs. In Lakh)
1. 2016-17 841.27
2. 2017-18 529.05
3. 2018-19 513.45

(ii) KALAKSHETRA FOUNDATION:

Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu is an Institution of National Importance and is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It is a premier institute in the field of Bharatanatyam, Carnatic Music, Visual Arts, Weaving and Natural Dyeing which are part of rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu.

During the past three years, the Foundation has received generous grants from Govt. of India for preservation and promotion of Art and Culture as under: -

Year Budget (Rs. in crore)
2017-18 16.27
2018-19 17.90
2019-20 18.28

The Foundation has been running Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts for training of students in the fields of Bharatanatyam, Carnatic Music and Visual Arts. The College runs 4-year Diploma and 2-year Post Diploma courses and has about 200 students on its roll. The Foundation has 14 looms where traditional weaving and natural dyeing is persevered.

The Foundation has been celebrating various art festivals throughout the year in preserving and promoting India’s rich culture which invariably include culture of Tamil Nadu.
We sponsor artists of Tamil Nadu to showcase talents especially in Carnatic Music and Bharatanatyam to events held in different parts of India and abroad

Special craft workshops have been conducted providing livelihood for craftsmen of Tamil Nadu which includes Terracotta Workshop and Weaving.

(iii) National Council of Science Museums(NCSM):

District Science Centre, Tirunelveli: it is functioning under the administrative Control of National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) for propagation of Science in the State.

NCSM has taken up the project of setting up of Science Centre(Cat-II) in Kanyakumari under SPoCS scheme. Setting up of Science Centre at Kanyakumari has been approved by M/o Culture. MoU has been sent to the State Government for signing and release of funds.

NCSM has also taken initiative to setup Innovation Hubs in the following Science Museums/Centres in Tamil Nadu to promote innovation, creativity and engagement in science among youths:-

• An Innovation Hub at Tamil Nadu Science & Technology Centre, Chennai

• An Innovation Hub at District Science Centre, Tirunelveli

• Works are in progress for setting up of Innovation Hubs at Anna Science Centre, Tiruchirappalli & Regional Science Centre, Coimbatore.

(iv) Gandhi Heritage Site Mission (GHSM):

One proposal relates to renovation and restoration of Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha (Gandhi Niwas) at Madras at an estimated cost of Rs. 30.00 lakh was received from General Secretary, Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha and the funds was released to the Organization in the year 2015. Work has already been completed in the year 2017.

(v) Funds released to NGOs belonging to the State of Tamil Nadu for the last three years under the Scheme Component of Repertory Grant:-
Sl.
No. Financial Year No. of Organizations Amount released (Rs. in lakhs)
1. 2016-2017 8 31.74
2. 2017-2018 11 59.76
3. 2018-2019 5 14.40
Total 24 105.90

(vi) Financial Assistance for Building Grant including Studio Theatre’ under “Scheme of Financial Assistance for Creation of Cultural Infrastructure”.
One proposal from Tamil Nadu under building grant scheme was received in the Ministry and an amount of Rs.25.00 lakh sanctioned during 2017-18. The project was completed.

(vii) SCHEME FOR PENSION AND MEDICAL AID TO ARTISTES
The details of the funds released to the Artistes pensioner of Tamil Nadu State during last 3 years:
Financial Year Amount Released
2017-18 NIL
2018-19 19,46,000
2019-20 92,31,500