Lok Sabha Question No. 2262 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-08
Subject: Schemes to Protect Cultural Diversity of Northeast Region
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Indra Hang Subba

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2262 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2021

## SCHEMES TO PROTECT CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF NORTHEAST REGION

## 2262.  SHRI INDRA HANG SUBBA

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry of Culture have specific schemes to protect and preserve the cultural diversity of the North-east region of the country;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any policy to preserve endangered culture and traditions; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (d) Ministry of Culture implements various financial grant schemes to preserve, promote and protect various forms of arts and culture including that of NE Region by way of extending financial  support  to  individuals  and  organizations.  However,  there  is  no  specific  scheme administered by Ministry of Culture to protect and preserve the cultural diversity of the Northeast  region  on  the  country.  A  statement  indicating  brief  details  of  various  financial  grant schemes administered by the Ministry of Culture is annexed (Annexure-I).

Further, to protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and culture including endangered culture and traditions 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.  To  protect  and  promote  the  rich  and  diverse  traditions  and culture  of  NE  Region,  the  Government  of  India  has  set  up  North  East  Zonal  Cultural  Centre (NEZCC)  at  Dimapur  and  Eastern  Zonal  Cultural  Centre  (EZCC)  at  Kolkata  (Autonomous organizations  under  Ministry  of  Culture).  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Assam,  Manipur,  Meghalaya, Mizoram,  Nagaland,  Sikkim  and  Tripura  are  the  member  States  of  NEZCC,  Dimapur  and Assam,  Manipur,  Sikkim  and  Tripura  are  also  the  member  States  of  EZCC,  Kolkata.  These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes in North-east Region on regular basis. OCTAVE - a festival  of  the  North  East  is  organized  by  all  seven  Zonal  Cultural  Centres  to promote  folk  culture  of  the  North  Eastern  States.  For  this  purpose,  artists  of  the  North  East region  are  engaged  by  ZCCs  to  showcase  the  rich  cultural  heritage  of  North  East.  It  may  be noted that 93% of the budget allocation provided to the ZCCs is incurred on the folk and tribal art forms.

In addition, there is one autonomous organization namely Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies, Dahung (Arunachal Pradesh) and the following three grantee bodies located in the North Eastern States which are engaged in preserving and promoting the folk art and culture of the NE Region:-

- i) Centre for Buddhist Studies, Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh.
2. ii) Namgyal Institute Of Tibetology, Gangtok.
3. iii) GRL Monastic School, Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh.

## BRIEF OF SCHEMES ADMINSITERED BY MINISTRY OF CULTURE

1. SCHEME  OF  FINANCIAL  ASSISTANCE  FOR  PROMOTION  OF  ART  AND CULTURE: The scheme consists of five components. The names and details of the scheme components are as given below:

## i Repertory Grant

The objective of Repertory Grant Scheme Component is to provide financial support for all  genres  of  performing  arts  activities  like  dramatic  groups,  theatre  groups,  music  ensembles, children theatre etc. and imparting training of artists by their respective Guru on regular basis in line  with  Guru-Shishya  Parampara.  As  per  the  scheme,  support  is  provided  to  1  Guru  and maximum 18 Shishyas.

Amount of Assistance - Guru Rs.10000/- p.m. , Shishya - Rs.1000-6000/-p.m.

## ii. Cultural organizations with National Presence

The objective  of  this  scheme  component  is  to  provide  support  for  cultural  activities  at Large scale National / International level. The Quantum of assistance under this scheme is up to Rs. 5 Cr.

## iii. Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG)

The  objective  of  this  scheme  component  is  to  provide  financial  support  to  NGOs/ Societies/  Trusts/  Universities  etc.  for  Seminars,  Conference,  Research,  Workshops,  Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music etc.  The maximum grants provided under CFPG is Rs.5 Lakh (Rs. 20 Lakh under exceptional circumstances)

## iv. Financial  Assistance  for  the  Preservation  &  Development  of  Cultural  Heritage  of the Himalayas

The objective of this scheme component is to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the Himalayas through research, training and dissemination through audio visual programmes. The financial support is provided to the organizations in the States falling under the Himalayan Region i.e. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The quantum of funding is Rs. 10.00 lakhs per year for an organization which can be increased to Rs. 30.00 lakhs in exceptional cases.

## v. Financial  Assistance  for  the  Preservation  &  Development  of  Buddhist/Tibetan Organization

Under this scheme  component  financial assistance is provided to the voluntary Buddhist/Tibetan organizations including Monasteries engaged in the propagation and scientific development  of  Buddhist/Tibetan  Cultural  and  tradition  and  research  in  related  fields.  The quantum of funding under scheme component is Rs. 30.00  lakhs per  year for an organization which can be increased to 1.00 crore in exceptional cases.

## 2. SCHEME  OF  FINANCIAL  ASSISTANCE  FOR  CREATION  OF  CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE:

## i. Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres

The objective of the Building Grant Scheme component is to provide financial support to NGO, Trust, Societies, Govt. Sponsored bodies, University, College etc.  for creation of Cultural infrastructure  (i.e.  studio  theatre,  auditorium,  rehearsal  hall,  classroom  etc.)  and  provision  of facilities  like  electrical,  air  conditioning,  acoustics,  light  and  sound  systems  etc.    Under  this scheme component, the maximum amount of grant is up to Rs.50 Lakh in metro cities and up to Rs.25 Lakh in non- metro cities.

## ii. Financial Assistance for Allied Cultural Activities

The  objective  of  sub-component  is  to  provide  financial  assistance  to  all eligible organizations for creation of assets for enhancing the audio-visual spectacle for allied cultural activities to give firsthand experience of live performances on regular basis and during festivals in  open/closed  areas/spaces.  Maximum  assistance  under  the  scheme  component,  including applicable duties & taxes and also Operation & Maintenance (O&M) costing for five years, will be as under:- (i) Audio: Rs.1.00 crore; (ii) Audio+Video: Rs. 1.50 crore.

## iii. Financial Assistance for Tagore Cultural Complexes(TCC)

The  aim  of  the  scheme  component  is  to  provide  financial  support  to  NGO,  Trust, Societies, Govt. Sponsored bodies, State / UT Govt. University, Central/State Govt. agencies/bodies, Municipal Corporations, reputed not-for-profit organizations etc. for creation of new  Large  Cultural  Spaces  such  as  Auditorium  with  facilities  and  infrastructure  for  stage performances (dance, drama and music), exhibitions, seminars, literary activities, green rooms, etc.    The  Scheme  component  also  provides  support  for  restoration,  renovation,  extension, alteration, up-gradation, modernization  of existing cultural facilities  (Rabindra  Bhawans, Rangshalas, Multipurpose Cultural Complexes) etc.  Under this scheme component, grant is up to Rs. 15 Crore (Rs. 50 Crore under exceptional Circumstances).

## 3. SCHEME OF SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP FOR PROMOTION OF ART AND CULTURE:

## i. Scheme  For  The  Award  Of  Fellowship  To  Outstanding  Persons  in  The  Field  Of Culture

Upto  400  fellowships  (200  Junior  and  200  Senior)  are  awarded  in  a  batch  year  to outstanding persons in the age group of 25 to 40 years (Jr.) and above 40 years (Sr.) in different cultural  fields  @  of  Rs.  10,000/-  p.m.  and  20,000/-p.m.  for  the  period  of  2  years  for  cultural research.

## ii. Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields

Upto  400  Scholarships  are  awarded  in  a  batch  year.  Under  this  scheme  financial assistance is given to young artistes of outstanding promise in the age group of 18-25 years for advanced training within  India in the field of  Indian  Classical  Music,  Indian  Classical  Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts and Light Classical Music etc. @ Rs. 5,000/- p.m. for 2 years.

## iii. Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research

The  purpose  of  the  Scheme  Component  is  to  invigorate  and  revitalize  the  various institutions under the Ministry of Culture (MoC) and other identified cultural institutions in the country, by encouraging scholars/ academicians to affiliate themselves with these institutions to work  on  projects  of  mutual  interest.  Upto  15  Fellowships  (Rs.80,000/-  p.m.  +  Contingency Allowance) and 25 Scholarships (Rs.50,000/- p.m. + Contingency Allowance) for a maximum period of 2 Years.

## 4. SCHEME FOR PENSION AND MEDICAL AID TO ARTISTES:

The objectives of this Scheme is to provide a pension of Rs.4.000/- p.m. to the old artistes and scholars (not less than the age of 60 years and annual income not exceeding Rs.48,000/- p.a.) who have contributed  significantly  in  their  specialized  fields  of  arts,  letters  etc.  but    are  now living  in  penury  condition.    The  Scheme  has  also  provision  to  provide medical  aid  facility  to these  Artistes  and  his/her  spouse  by  covering  them  under  a  convenient  and  affordable  Health Insurance  Scheme  of  the  Government.  In  the  event  of  death  of  the  beneficiary,  the  financial assistance is transferred to his/her spouse.

## 5. SEVA BHOJ YOJNA:

Under  the  Scheme  of  'SevaBhojYojna'  Central  Goods  and  Services  Tax  (CGST)  and Central Government's share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) paid on purchase of specific raw food items by Charitable/Religious Institutions for distributing free food to public shall be reimbursed as Financial Assistance by the Government of India. Free 'prasad' or free food or free 'langar' / 'bhandara' (community kitchen) offered by charitable/religious institutions like Gurudwara, Temples, Dharmik Ashram, Mosques, Dargah, Church, Math, Monasteries etc. are covered under Seva Bhoj Yojana.

## 6. MUSEUM GRAMT SCHEMES:

(i) Museum Grant: The aim and objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance for setting  up of new Museums, strengthening and modernizing existing museums at the regional, state and district level. Conserving collections of artefacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Digitization of art objects in the museums across the country for  making  their  images/catalogues  available  over  the  website.  Capacity  building  of  Museum professionals.

(ii) Scheme  for  promotion  of  culture  of  science  (SPOCS): The  aim  and  objective  of  the scheme is to portray the growth of science and technology and their application in industry and human welfare, with a view to develop scientific attitude and temper and to create, inculcate and sustain a general awareness amongst the people.

## 7. SCHEME FOR PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL RELATIONS

The scheme provides financial assistance to cultural societies actively promoting Indian Culture abroad to organize cultural activities depicting Indian Culture to help encourage interest in India among foreign nationals.

## 8. SCHEME FOR SAFEGUARDING THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE AND DIVERSE CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF INDIA

The  objective  of  the  scheme  is  to  reinvigorate  and  revitalize  various  institutions,  groups, individuals,  identified  non-MOC  institutions,  non-government  organizations,  researchers  and scholars so that they may engage in activities/projects for strengthening, protecting, preserving and promoting the rich intangible cultural heritage of India.

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