Lok Sabha Question No. 1273 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-25
Subject: Preservation of Ancient Indian Folk Culture
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Ajay Nishad, Ranjeeta Koli

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1273 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH NOVEMBER, 2019

## PRESERVATION OF ANCIENT INDIAN FOLK CULTURE

## † 1273.  SHRI AJAY NISHAD: SHRIMATI RANJEETA KOLI:

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

- (a) whether most of the ancient Indian traditional Folk Cultures are disappearing;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  names  of  the  ancient  folk  cultures  of  the country which is being preserved including the State of Rajasthan;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to formulate concrete policies to revive and preserve  the  Indian  Folk  Arts  and  Culture  and  if  so,  the  details  of  work  being executed to preserve these folk cultures along with the name of the Schemes under which the said  works  are  being carried  out  and  the  name  of  the  places which are related to the said folk culture;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to promote the artists and the details of the promotional schemes implemented for folk artistes; and
- (e) the details of the funds sanctioned/released for preserving the said folk culture during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (d) No such formal study in this regard has been conducted so far by the Government. However, for  preservation  of  the  ancient  folk  cultures  of  the  country  including  Rajasthan,  the Government has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarter at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur,  Prayagraj,  Kolkata,  Dimapur  and  Thanjavur.  The  main  objectives  of  these  ZCCs  are  to protect,  promote  and  preserve  various  traditional,  folk  arts  and  culture  of  all  States/Union Territories.

Various folk songs, dances and other art forms have been preserved so far by ZCCs across the country including the State of Rajasthan like Gangour Nritya of Madhya Pradesh; Folk Dances of Goa; Bhawai,  Kalbelia Dance & Dhola Maru of Rajasthan; Giddha Folk Dance of Punjab; Mahasu Dance  of  Himachal  Pradesh;  Tiger  Dance  of  Kerala;  Burra  Katha  &  Dhimsa  of  Andhra  Pradesh; Surabhi  Natakam  of  Telangana;  Harikatha  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Telangana,  Maharashtra  and Karnataka; Danda Nritya & Chhau Dance of Odisha; Dhankul Geet of Chhattisgarh etc.

For promotion of folk artists, they are engaged by these ZCCs to showcase their talent throughout the  country  for  which  they  are  paid  TA/DA,  honorarium,  boarding  &  lodging,  local transport etc. by the ZCCs. These ZCCs under Ministry of Culture are implementing a number of schemes for promoting the folk artists, details of which are Annexed.

- (e) Funds released by the Ministry of Culture to the seven ZCCs during the last three years are as under:

(Rs. in lakh)

| Year    |   Funds released |
|---------|------------------|
| 2016-17 |          6085.07 |
| 2017-18 |          4689.71 |
| 2018-19 |          5952.69 |

## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1273 for 25.11.2019

## SCHEMES BEING IMPLEMENTED BY ZCCs

- i. AWARD TO YOUNG TALENTED ARTISTES: The Scheme 'Young Talented Artists' is carried out  to  encourage  and  recognize  the  young  talents  especially  in  the  field  of  rare  art  forms. Talented youngsters of the age group of 18-30 years are selected and given a onetime  cash award of Rs. 10,000/-.
- ii. GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA SCHEME: This scheme envisages  transmitting  our  valued traditions to the coming generations. Disciples are trained under veterans in art forms which are rare  and  vanishing.  Rare  and  vanishing  art  forms  of  the  region  are  identified  and  eminent exponents are selected to carry out the training programmes in 'Gurukula' tradition. The monthly remuneration for Guru - Rs. 7,500/-, Accompanist - Rs. 3,750/- and Pupils - Rs. 1,500/- each for the period  of  six  month  to  maximum  1  year  for  one  scheme.  The  names  of  the  Gurus  are recommended by the State Cultural Affairs Departments.
- iii. THEATRE REJUVENATION SCHEME:  To promote theatre activities including stage shows and Production oriented workshops, etc. Honorarium Up to Rs. 30,000/- per show excluding TA & DA  is  paid.  The  groups  finalized  on  the  basis  their  credentials  as  well  as  the  merit  of  project submitted by them.
- iv. RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION SCHEME:  To preserve promote and propagate vanishing visual  and  performing  art  forms  including  folk,  tribal  and  classical  in  the  field  of  music,  dance, theatre,  literature,  fine  arts  etc.  in  print/  audio  -  visual  media.  The  art  form  is  finalized  in consultation with state Cultural Department.
- v. SHILPGRAM SCHEME: To promote folk and tribal art and crafts of the zone by organizing seminar, workshops, exhibitions, craft fairs, design development and marketing support to the artisans living in the rural areas.
- vi. OCTAVE:    To  promote  and  propagate  the  rich  cultural  heritage  of  North  East  region comprising  of  eight  States  namely  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Assam,  Meghalaya,  Mizoram,  Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura to the rest of India.
- vii. NATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME (NCEP):  It can be termed as the lifeline of the Zonal Cultural Centers. Under this scheme, various festivals of performing arts, exhibitions, yatras  etc  are  organized  in  member  States.  Artists  from  other  zones/states  are  invited  to participate in these programmes. Participation of artists from the Zone in festivals held in other parts  of  the  country  are  also  facilitated.  Zonal  centres  also  participate  in  Major  festivals happening  in  member  States  by  arranging  performances  during  these  festivals  where  large number  of  audience  get  chance  to  enjoy  and  understand  art  forms  of  other  regions.  These festivals provide opportunity to taste and understand various cultures of our country.

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