Lok Sabha Question No. 176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-03
Subject: Conservation and Promotion of Traditional Folk Art, Dance and Culture
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Saikia Dilip, Ramesh Chander Kaushik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 176 RD FEBRUARY, 2020

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 3

## CONSERVATION AND PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL FOLK ART, DANCE AND CULTURE

## † 176.   SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA: SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  schemes  formulated  by  the  Government  for  the  conservation  of fading  traditional  folk  art,  dance,  tradition  and  culture  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether  Government/Non  Governmental  Organisations  have  been  roped  in  for  the conservation of traditional art and culture and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the efforts made by the Government for the conservation and promotion of languages, traditional  art,  folk  art,  folk  dance,  tangible  and  intangible  cultural  heritages  at  the national level along with the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has fixed any responsibility in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## 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  folk,  traditional  art  and  culture 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.  These  ZCCs  organize  various  cultural  activities  and  programmes  all  over  the country  on  regular  basis  for  which  annual  grant-in-aid  is  provided  to  them.  A  number  of schemes viz. Award to Young Talented Artists, Guru Shishya Parampara, Theatre Rejuvenation, Research & Documentation, Shilpgram, OCTAVE  and National Cultural Exchange  Programme  (NCEP)  are  being  implemented  by  these  ZCCs.  Government/Non Governmental  Organisations  are  also  involved  for  the  conservation  of  traditional  art  and culture  by  these  ZCCs.  Further,  Ministry  of  Culture  also  administers  various  financial  grant schemes which include Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture (5 Components),  Scheme  of  Scholarship  and  Fellowship  for  Promotion  of  Art  and  Culture  (3 Components) and Scheme of Financial  Assistance  for  creation  of  Cultural  Infrastructure  (3 components) for the purpose.

As  regard  the  Intangible  cultural  heritage  is  concerned,  the  Archaeological  Survey  of India  (ASI)  which  is  an  attached  office  of  Ministry  of  Culture,  is  the  premier  organization responsible for conservation and preservation of protected monuments and areas of national importance related to antiquities and art treasures.

- (d)   Does not arise.