(a) the details of the functions of the Sahitya Akademi;
(b) the number of programmes organized by the Akademi from 1.01.2004 to 30.09.2008 and the
details of the expenditure incurred thereon;
(c) whether the Akademi gives grant to the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) for
promotion of India language and literature;
(d) if so, the number of NGOs given grant from 01.01.2004 to 30.09.2008 and the amount
thereof; and
(e)the basis on which this grant has been given?
MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE (SMT. AMBIKA SONI)
(a) As per clause 3 (b) of the Constitution of Sahitya Akademi, the functions of the
Akademi are, as under :-
(i) to promote co-operation among men of letters for the development of literature in
Indian languages;
(ii) to encourage or to arrange translations of literary works from one Indian language
into others and also from non-Indian into Indian languages and vice-versa;
(iii) to publish or to assist associations and individuals in publishing literary works
including bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias, basic vocabularies etc. in various
Indian languages;
(iv) to sponsor or to hold literary conferences, seminars and exhibitions on all-India
or regional basis;
(v) to award prizes and distinctions and give recognition to individual writers for out-
standing work;
(vi) to promote research in Indian languages and literature;
(vii) to promote the teachings and study of regional languages and literature in areas beyond
their own;
(viii) to encourage propagation and study of literature among the masses;
(ix) (a) to improve and develop the various scripts in which the languages of the country
are written;
(b) to promote the use of Devanagari script and to encourage publication in that script of
select books in any Indian language;
(c) to publish, if found necessary, standard books of one Indian language in the scripts of
other languages;
(x) to promote cultural exchanges with other countries and to establish relations with
international organisations in the field of letters;
(xi) to receive grants, bequests and other donations, to purchase land, own property of
all kinds and to maintain, sell, mortgage or otherwise dispose of it in furtherance of its
works; and
(xii) to do all such other acts and things whether incidental to powers aforesaid or not
as may be required in order to further its objects
(b) The number of programmes organized and the details of expenditure incurred thereon by
the Sahitya Akademi from 01.01.2004 to 30.09.2008 are as follows :-
Year No. of Programmes Expenditure incurred held (Rs. in Lakhs)
2003-04 209 102.55
2004-05 203 100.20
2005-06 222 175.00
2006-07 202 211.00
2007-08 310 230.00
2008-09 210 240.00
(up to 30/9/08)