Question : Preservation of Art and Traditional Culture

(a) whether the Government has formulated any plan/scheme for preservation, promotion and promulgation of diverse customs, traditions, folk art, folk dance, tribal art, tangible and intangible cultural heritage along with the traditional art and culture of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT wise including Maharashtra and Jharkhand along with the schemes formulated by the Government in this regard;

(c) the funds/special funds allocated and expenditure incurred by the Government in various States of the country during the last three years in this regard, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the Government is planning to open regional offices/cultural centres for the preservation and promotion of various folk arts and traditions of the country and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether NGOs, various agencies are also involved/are being involved in the venture and if so, the details thereof including the details of financial assistance, if any, given to them during the last three years and the current year; and

(f) whether the Government has any mechanism to monitor the implementation of the said schemes and if so, the details thereof along with the details of programs formulated to promote Indian culture and to create awareness about it?

MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c) The mandate of the Ministry of Culture is to preserve and promote the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the country including traditional art, folk art and tribal art through its organizations and schemes.

To protect, preserve & promote various forms of traditional art and folk art 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 develop traditional art across the country including Maharashtra and Jharkhand, these ZCCs are implementing a number of schemes viz. Award to Young Talented Artistes, Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme, Theatre Rejuvenation Scheme, Research & Documentation Scheme, Shilpgram Scheme, OCTAVE and National Cultural Exchange Programme (NCEP).

No State/UT-wise funds are provided for promotion of traditional art and folk art. However, annual grant-in-aid is provided to all these 7 ZCCs by Government of India for carrying out various cultural activities throughout the country for this purpose.

(d) The Government of India has initiated action for setting up of cultural sub-centres of these ZCCs in their member States as per agreed terms and conditions that include land free of cost and also their matching fund contribution. These cultural centres would be under the administrative control and supervision of the respective ZCCs. At present, no complete proposal for setting up of Regional Office/Cultural Centre in any member State of ZCC has been received as per guidelines.

(e) The Government of India provides financial assistance to NGOs and various agencies for promotion and preservation of art and culture through some of its schemes. The scheme-wise details of financial assistance provided to them during the last three years and the current year are at Annexure.

(f) Proper utilization of funds is ensured through Audited Accounts and Utilization Certificate. Apart from this, regular inspection is also carried out by the Ministry.

To promote Indian culture and to create awareness, the Government of India has organized Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) at New Delhi (November, 2015 and October, 2016), Uttar Pradesh (December, 2016), Karnataka & Arunachal Pradesh (March, 2017), Gujarat (October, 2017), Karnataka (January, 2018), Madhya Pradesh (February, 2018 & October, 2019) and Uttarakhand (May, 2018). A Sanskriti Mahotsav was also organized at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh during February, 2018. All the ZCCs alongwith other organizations under Ministry of Culture have participated in the Kumbh Mela, 2019 at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.



ANNEXURE

Annexure referred to in reply to part (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3404 for 09.12.2019

(Rs. in Crore)
SL. No. Name of the Scheme Years 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 (as on date)
1. Repertory Grant 40.13 41.89 33.47 25.34
2. Financial Assistance to Cultural Organizations with National Presence
3.37 4.60 5.40 0.62
3. Cultural Function Production Grant 30.19 38.81 32.00 4.06
4. Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas
1.10 2.59 2.39 0.01
5. Preservation and Development of Buddhist/ Tibetan Organizations
10.54 11.24 13.93 3.16
6. Financial assistance for Building Grant including Studio Theatres
0.77 2.21 3.15 1.16
7. Financial assistance for Allied Cultural Activities
0.00 0.00 10.60 7.00
8. Scheme for Financial assistance for Tagore Cultural Complexes
15.25 18.16 3.61 0.00
9. Scholarship and Fellowship for Promotion of Art and Culture
11.75 10.70 13.46 12.34
10. Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artists
13.17 15.30 19.73 17.00
11. Scheme of Financial Assistance under Sewa Bhoj Yojana
0.00 0.00 0.05 2.14
12. Museum Grant Scheme
49.00 32.46 31.93 14.27
13. Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS)
44.54 13.25 24.78 1.91
14. Intangible Cultural Heritage and Scheme
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
15. Festival of India
16.42 23.24 21.34* 13.26*
16. Grant in Aid Indo Foreign Friendship Cultural Society 11.56 12.21

*The erstwhile independent schemes have been merged into a single scheme.