Lok Sabha Question No. 4682 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Development of Culture of Tamil Nadu
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: S.R. Parthiban

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4682

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

## DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE OF TAMIL NADU

## 4682. SHRI PARTHIBAN S.R.:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (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 ?

## ANSWER 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.

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 |                   17.9  |
| 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 4year  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 |                            14.4  |
| Total     | Total            |                     24 |                           105.9  |

## (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         |