Lok Sabha Question No. 3157 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-06
Subject: Attracting Regional Talent in Drama
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3157 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2018

## ATTRACTING REGIONAL TALENT IN DRAMA

## 3157. SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government has been successful in attracting the regional talent in the field of drama;
- (b) If so, the details thereof; and
- (c) If not, the reasons therefor along with the follow up/ corrective action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

## ANSWER

(a) & (b):  Yes, Madam. Ministry of Culture, through its autonomous organisations National School of Drama (NSD) and Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), has been successful in attracting regional talent in the field of drama by organising various programmes, festivals, seminars, trainings and schemes.

NSD is primarily a theatre training institute imparting training in Dramatic Arts leading to 3 years' Diploma for admission in PG Diploma Course in the Dramatic Arts, it is ensured that the candidates from almost all the regions of the country are included and selected.

-  Under  the  Out-reach/Extension  Programme  of  NSD,  production  oriented  theatre  workshops across the country in all the regions are conducted in collaboration with the local theatre groups and plays are also performed, as part of these workshops.
-  The NSD has opened centers; one each at Sikkim, Agartala, Bangaluru & Varanasi to attract the theatre enthusiasts from the areas of South India, North-East, Uttar Pradesh & Bihar regions, etc.
-  Students  from  NSD  also  visit  various  regions  of  the  country  to  perform  research  and  develop theatre forms prevalent in the regions, which are quite diverse in nature.
-  This year the NSD had also organized 8 th Theatre Olympics in which groups from 25 countries participated with about 25000 artists. In so far as India is concerned, 309 shows were staged in 17 Indian languages from various regions of the country.
-  Tribal  festivals  are  conducted  in  the  tribal  dominated  areas  and  maximum  number  of  groups from these areas participate in these festivals.
-  Repertory company of the NSD also visits  various places  of  the  country  to  perform the  plays which  are  seen/viewed  by  large  number  of  audience.    This  also  helps  in  attracting  people towards Indian dramatic arts, traditions and folk arts.
-  NSD's  Sanskaar  Rang  Toli  (TIE  Company)  has  a  biennial  event  called  'Bal  Sangam'/Jashne Bachpan.    These  are  festivals  with  a  focus  on  Indian  performing  folk  and  traditional  arts presented by children practicing these arts, from different regions of the country including rural areas.  These  festivals  attract  a  large  number  of  children's  from  various  parts  of  the  country including tribal regions.

Sangeet Natak Akademi also organizes Festivals all over the country, provides funds for research, documentation, and publishing in the performing arts which includes drama also.

(c) : Question does not arise.