Lok Sabha Question No. 1194 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-25
Subject: Cultural Programmes and Projects in North Eastern States
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1194 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH NOVEMBER, 2019

## CULTURAL PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS IN NORTH EASTERN STATES

## † 1194.   SHRI NABA KUMAR SARANIA:

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

- (a) the details  of the  funds  allocated  by  the  Government as assistance to various cultural programmes and projects in North Eastern States and the amount utilized in this regard during the last two years;
- (b) the details of the ongoing cultural programmes and projects in Assam;
- (c) the details of the projects completed in time and the projects lagging behind schedule along with the reasons for such delay;
- (d) the amount of funds released to the cultural centres of North-Eastern States during the last three years along with the details thereof; and
- (e) the purposes for which the said funds were utilized by the said centres and the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)        No funds are directly allocated/released to the States/Union Territories by Ministry of Culture for cultural programmes & projects. To protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and culture of  the  North  Eastern  States  throughout  the  country,  the  Government  has  set  up  North  East  Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) at Dimapur. NEZCC organizes various cultural activities and programmes of the North East Regions on regular basis all over India. The funds released by Ministry of Culture to NEZCC and the amount utilized by them on various cultural activities and programmes conducted in various North Eastern States during the last two years are as under:

| Year    |   Fund released by Ministry of Culture |   (Rs. in lakh) Funds utilized by NEZCC |
|---------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 2017-18 |                                 610    |                                   610   |
| 2018-19 |                                 792.59 |                                   693.5 |

(b) & (c) Various cultural activities/programmes viz. Discover North East, Border Area Programmes, Umang  Programmes,  Local  Traditional  Festivals,  Women  Activities,  Painting  Workshops,  Shilpgram Weekend  Programmes  and  Classical  Dance  Workshop  are  being  organized  by  NEZCC  in  Assam.  No cultural project is pending on account of Ministry of Culture in Assam.

(d) & (e) Annual Grant-in-aid is provided to the Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) by the Government of India for organizing various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis throughout the country including  the  North-Eastern  States.  However,  no  State/UT-wise  funds  are  provided  for  this  purpose. Various  cultural  programmes/festivals,  fairs,  workshops,  exhibitions  are  organized  by  NEZCC  for preservation  and promotion of various  folk arts  and  traditions  of  the  North  East  Regions.  The  funds released to NEZCC by Ministry of Culture for this purpose during the last three years are as under:

## (Rs. in lakh)

| Year    |   Amount |
|---------|----------|
| 2016-17 |  1765    |
| 2017-18 |   610    |
| 2018-19 |   792.59 |