Lok Sabha Question No. 111 (STARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.111 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.7.2017

## EK BHARAT SHRESHTHA BHARAT

## *111. SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme/scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  also  launched  'National  Mission  on  Cultural Mapping of India', if so, the details thereof including the salient features and the aims and objectives of the said Mission;
- (c)   whether all the States/UTs are being covered under the Mission and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (d)  the extent to and the manner in which this Mission is likely to encourage cultural connect and develop tourism in the country; and
- (e)  whether  the  Ministry  of  Culture  in  collaboration  with  NITI  Aayog  organised National workshop to initiate focussed group discussion with various stakeholders and if so, the details of the participants of the workshop along with the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE(I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM DR. MAHESH SHARMA

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 111 FOR 24 th  JULY, 2017

- (a) The 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat' programme was launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister on 31 st October, 2016 on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The programme is a unique effort to secure greater unity and integrity of  India  by  celebrating  its  cultural  diversity  by  the  people  of  different  States and UTs.
- (b) & (c) The Government has launched a scheme namely 'National Mission on Cultural  Mapping  and  Roadmap'  on  29 th March,  2017  for  moving  in  the direction of promoting and bridging the cultural gap and collecting database of artists,  artisans  and  various  art  forms  across  the  country  in  order  to  create healthy competition in preserving local culture of various States and sharing the same with other States. The Scheme is not State specific and will cover the whole country.
- (d) The  Mission  will  take  various  initiatives  such  as  mapping  of  local  artists, events,  art  forms,  Kala  Grams/Crafts  Mela  with  tourism  spots,  developing cultural guides and tourism programmes to integrate our cultural assets and activities  into  the  local  economy  in  order  to  improve  and  promote  cultural tourism throughout the country. Further, the National Cultural Work Place(NCWP),  envisaged  as  an  objective  of  the  Mission,  will  provide  a common platform for cultural connection bringing integration between Culture and Tourism.
- (e) The Ministry of Culture organized a National Workshop on 12 th April, 2016 in association  with  NITI  Aayog  to  discuss  the  concept  and  objectives  of  'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat'. Representatives of various Ministries/Departments/States/UTs and other stakeholders participated in the workshop and shared their views/ideas  which  finally  resulted  in  shaping  up the  objectives  towards  Ek  Bharat  Shrestha  Bharat.  National  Mission  on Cultural  Mapping  is  not  directly  covered  under  'Ek  Bharat  Shrestha  Bharat' Scheme but is an ENABLER for collecting database of artists, artisans and various art forms across the country.
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