Lok Sabha Question No. 5236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Preservation and Development of Art, Culture and Crafts in North East
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Saikia Dilip

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5236

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  APRIL, 2022

## PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ART, CULTURE AND CRAFTS IN NORTH EAST

## † 5236. SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the people are getting less inclined towards art, culture and crafts due to the development of information technology and its utilization in daily life in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the projects being run by the Government for the preservation and development  of  art,  culture  and  crafts  in  the  North  Eastern  States  including Assam at present; and
- (d) the funds provided by the Government for the said projects in this regard during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) No such formal study has been conducted in this regard.
- (b) Does not arise.
- (c) & (d) For preservation and development of art and culture in North Eastern States including Assam, the Govt. of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs).  Assam  is  the  member  State  of  Eastern  Zonal  Cultural  Centre  (EZCC), Kolkata and North East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Dimapur. These two ZCCs make the people of NE region aware about the art and culture of the region. All the seven  ZCCs  conduct  number  of  activities  viz.  cultural  programmes,  seminars, workshops, exhibitions and craft fairs in tribal areas for the development of Tribals on regular basis all over India including Assam. OCTAVE - a festival of the North East is organized by all the ZCCs for preservation and development of art and culture of the NE Region. Ministry of Culture also administers various schemes through these ZCCs  for  development  of  art  and  culture  all  over  India  including  North  Eastern States. Brief details of these schemes are at Annexure.

Besides,  the  Ministry  of  Culture  organizes  Rashtriya  Sanskriti  Mahotsavs (RSMs)  to  celebrate  the  spirit  of  Tradition,  Culture,  Heritage  and  Diversity  of  our incredible country. This Mahotsav plays a great role of representing each and every dimension of our cultural tradition and showcasing it to the country and its people. This  Mahotsav  presents  a  unique  opportunity  to  witness  each  and  every  folk, traditional, tribal and classical art forms of India including North Eastern States.

For  organizing  various  cultural  activities  and  programmes  on  regular  basis throughout the country, annual grant-in-aid is provided to all the ZCCs by the Ministry of Culture. Details of annual grant-in-aid released to these ZCCs during the last three years are as under:-

| No.   | Year    |   (Rs. in lakh) Funds Released/ Spent |
|-------|---------|---------------------------------------|
| i.    | 2019-20 |                               5732.95 |
| ii.   | 2020-21 |                               4009.38 |
| iii.  | 2021-22 |                               5881.46 |

Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Govt. of India has also undertaken a variety of initiatives for preserving and protecting the traditional art, culture and crafts of the North Eastern Region. Ministry of DoNER also supplements the efforts of various Ministries which are engaged in livelihood through the projects of  North  Eastern  Community  Resource  Management  Project  (NERCORMP)  and North Eastern Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP). Ministry of DoNER has sanctioned 10 projects worth Rs. 244.52 crore relating to tourism and culture section under NonLapsable Central Pool of Resources-State (NLCPR-State) including 3 projects worth Rs.  15.52  crore  sanctioned  in  the  State  of  Assam.  Against  these  projects,  funds amounting  to  Rs.209.71  crore  have  been  released  by  the  Ministry  so  far.    Under special  packages  of  Assam  viz.  Karbi  Anglong  Autonomous  Territorial  Council (KAATC)  and  Dima  Hasao  Autonomous  Territorial  Council  (DHATC),  03  projects worth  Rs.43.09  crore  have  been  sanctioned  against  which  so  far  Rs.33.99  crore have been released by the Ministry.

Further,  Ministry  of  DoNER  through  North  Eastern  Council  and  its  Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) make continuous efforts toward promotion of art and  culture  including  food  and  handicrafts  of  North  Eastern  Region  (NER).  North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC), a CPSU under Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, procures handicrafts and handlooms from artisans and weavers from all the eight North Eastern states and retails the same through its chain of "Purbashree" Emporia located at Shillong, Guwahati, Kolkata, New Delhi, Kevadia (Near Statue of Unity, Gujarat) and its Sales Promotion  Office  at  Chennai.  An  annual  event  viz.  Destination  North  East  (DNE) Festival is organized by the Ministry, since 2016, with an objective to showcase the inherent economic, social and cultural strength of the NER. This event was held at Chandigarh (2017), Delhi (2016 and 2018), Varanasi (2019). In 2020, this event was held  virtually,  due  to  restrictions  imposed  on  account  of  COVID-19.  North  Eastern Council (NEC) has also been supporting many events and festivals showcasing art and culture of NER across the country.

North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd. (NERAMAC), a CPSU under Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region promotes art and culture of North Eastern Region  through  participation in various events  and exhibitions.

## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (c) & (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5236 for 04.04.2022

## SCHEMES BEING IMPLEMENTED BY ZONAL CULTURAL CENTRES (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: 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 Culture Departments.
- iii. Theatre Rejuvenation: 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 are finalized on the basis of their credentials as well as the merit of projects submitted by them.
- iv. Research & Documentation: To preserve, promote and propagate vanishing visual  and  performing  art  forms,  including  folk,  tribal  and  classical  in  the  fields  of music, dance, theatre, literature, fine arts etc. in print/ audio - visual media. The art form is finalized in consultation with State Culture Departments.
- v. Shilpgram: 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: 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 understand various cultures of our country.