Lok Sabha Question No. 3513 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-08
Subject: Showcasing of Natural Beauty of North East
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Pallab Lochan Das

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3513

## ANSWERED ON 08.08.2022

## SHOWCASING OF NATURAL BEAUTY OF NORTH EAST

## 3513. SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Ministries of Tourism and DoNER are in consultation with Film Industries, Mumbai to explore the possibility of  shooting  films  in  North  East  showcasing  the  rich  culture  and natural beauty of the region;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the initiatives undertaken by the Government to promote indigenous products of North East?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) & (b): No  Sir.  No  such  proposal  is  under  consideration  in  the Ministry of Tourism.

However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  issued  guidelines  dated 25.07.2012 for extending financial support to State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations, for promotion of 'Film Tourism'. The financial assistance is provided up to Rs.2.00 Lakh per film for components such as Space Hiring/Filming charges, Facilitation Fee etc.

Ministry of Tourism (India Tourism Office, Mumbai) in association with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organised a Symposium on Film Tourism in Mumbai on 8 th  November 2021. The Film Facilitation  Office  acted  as  a Knowledge  Partner  in  the  Symposium. Filmmakers, Associations and Government from various States including  the  states  of  Nagaland,  Sikkim  and  Assam  in  the  North Eastern Region participated in the event and interacted with industry members  from  other  parts  of  the  country  including  Mumbai  and Maharashtra. The industry was represented by 19 Trade Associations and  Film Chamber  of  Commerce  from  all  over  the country and representatives  from  over  20  Producers,  Production  Houses,  Studios and OTT platform. The industry members mentioned on ground issues that are faced by them during the filming process in various locations which were taken into cognisance by the participating States.

Ministry of Tourism has also supported Global Film Festival Sikkim held from 28 th  February to 1 st  March, 2020 to showcase Film Tourism.

(c): Ministry of Tourism, promotes India in a holistic manner.  As part of its  on-going  activities,  it  releases  global  print,  electronic  and  online media  campaigns  in  important  and  potential  markets  overseas,  under the 'Incredible India' brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country including North East.

Ministry of Tourism has developed a Portal named 'Utsav' aiming to showcase  all  the  events,  festivals  and  live  darshans  across  India  to promote  different  regions  of  the  country,  including  North  East,  as portal on the portal comprises  information  on  more  than  300  events,  festivals  and  live popular tourist destinations worldwide. This showcases the month-wise and State wise calendar contents festivals, Events and Online Pooja/Aarti. As on date, darshans across States.

Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance to State Governments/  UT  Administrations  for  organising  fairs  and  festivals. Financial  Assistance  provided  to  North  Eastern  States  for  organising fairs  and  festivals  under  its  'Domestic  Promotion  &  Publicity  including

Hospitality (DPPH)' Scheme is at annexure.

Apart from the above, North Eastern Council (NEC) has conveyed the following:-

- (i) various tourism promoting programmes/events are supported  regularly  by  NEC.  State  tourist-centric  festivals like  'Sangai  Festival  (Manipur)',  'Behdienkhlam  Festival (Meghalaya)' and 'Hornbill Festival (Nagaland)' are supported by NEC to attract tourists from different parts of the country as well as abroad.
- (ii) 'Destination North East', an annual event to showcase the rich  art  and  culture,  local  cuisine,  customs  and  traditions and  attractive  eco-tourism  spots  etc.  in  the  region is
- organised  to  attract  tourists.  The  event  was  organised successfully in Chandigarh (2017), Delhi (2018) and Varanasi (2019). Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the event was organised in virtual mode during 2020.
- Moreover, 'North East India Festival' at Bangkok was held on  9 th   to  10 th   February,  2019  to  showcase  the  tourist
- (iii) destinations of NER.
- (iv) A  total  no.  of  36  projects  amounting  to  Rs.169.63  Crore were sanctioned during FY2017-18 to FY 2021-22 to support and promote indigenous products of NER under Schemes of NEC.

Further  as  informed  by  Ministry  of  Development  of  North  Eastern Region,  the  initiatives  undertaken  by  North  Eastern  Handicrafts  and Handlooms  Development  Corporation  Limited  (NEHHDC)  and  North Eastern  Regional  Agriculture  Marketing  Corporation  Ltd.  (NERAMAC)

to promote indigenous products of North Eastern States are as under:

North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Corporation Limited (NEHHDC):

Development

-  NEHHDC has signed MoUs with number of entrepreneurs from North Eastern states for showcasing and marketing of handicrafts & handlooms products of those entrepreneurs in various platforms like NEHHDC's own e-commerce portal, Amazon, Flipkart, GoCoop, GeM, Foreign exhibitions/roadshow etc.
-  NEHHDC conducted three Technical Training programmes in Artistic Textiles at Phulaguri, Mirza in Kamrup (R), Puranigudam  in  Nagaon  and  Depota  in  Sonitpur  district  of Assam during January 2020 to March 2020 with 20 trainees in each batch. Another Technical Training programme in Artistic Textiles at Gauripur, district Dhubri, Assam was held in  October,  2020.  In  collaboration  with  UNDP,  the  NEHHDC conducted  two  workshops  on  capacity  building,  design  and market linkages for handlooms products in Assam & Nagaland wherein a total of 102 women weavers participated in October & November 2021.
-  NEHHDC has  the  following  approved  projects  in  the  North Eastern Region namely
- i. Market development by way of Digitalisation, Authentication  and  Traceability in  handloom  sector  of North Eastern States.
- Eri  Silk  Spinning Plant at  Mushalpur,  Integrated  Textile
- ii. Park (ITP), Baksa, Assam
- iii. Setting up of ASHTLAXMI  Haat,  CPEC-Garchuk  for facilitating market linkage for the handicrafts and handloom artisans and weavers from the north eastern region.

North  Eastern  Regional  Agriculture  Marketing  Corporation  Ltd. (NERAMAC): North  Eastern  Regional  Agriculture  Marketing  Corporation Ltd.  (NERAMAC),  has  undertaken  GI  tagging  of  13  indigenous  food products  of  NER.  NERAMAC  participates  and  conducts  periodic  buyerseller meets to increate the reach of NER products and held the farmers connect  to  market.  Stalls  have  been  opened  in  Assam  in  high  footfall tourist areas to ensure accessibility to sale of processed food products.

Ministry  of  Textiles  has  also  conveyed  that  in  the  Silk  sector, Ministry  of  Textiles  through  Central  Silk  Board  has  taken  following initiatives for the promotion of sericulture industry in North East States:

-  Central  Silk  Board  with  its  R  &  D  institutes,  Seed  production Centers and Regional office situated in NE region providing R & D and Technical assistance for the development of Sericulture in NE states.
-  Implemented  a  re-structured  scheme  of  CDP  namely  'Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry' (ISDSI) during the year 2015-16 & 2016-17, 'Silk Samagra' scheme from 2021-22 to 202526  for  the  development  of  sericulture  industry  in  the  country including North East states.
-  North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), a Central Sector scheme exclusively approved for North East region. Special emphasis  has  been  given  for  consolidation  and  expansion  of Sericulture  in  all  North  Eastern  States  with  critical  interventions from host plantation development to finished products with value addition at every stage of production chain. Under this 38 Sericulture projects have been approved for implementation in all North eastern States in the identified potential districts under four broad  categories  viz.  Integrated  Sericulture  Development  Project (ISDP), Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture Development Project (IBSDP), Eri Spun Silk Mills (ESSM) and Development of Sericulture
- in Aspirational Districts with a total project cost of Rs. 1,107.90 of which GoI share is Rs.956.01 crore.
-  From  the  above  schemes/  projects,  assistance  is  extended  to sericulture  stakeholders  for  infrastructure  development  through the beneficiary oriented components like, raising of Kissan Nursery,  Plantation  with  improved  Mulberry  varieties,  Irrigation, chawki  rearing  centers  with  incubation  facility,  construction  of rearing  houses,  rearing  equipments,  support  for  improved  reeling units  like  Automatic  reeling  units,  Multiend  reeling  machines, Improved Twisting machines and support for post yarn facilities for quality Silk and fabric production.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3513 ANSWERED ON 08.08.2022 REGARDING SHOWCASING OF NATURAL BEAUTY OF NORTH EAST

Details  of  Financial  Assistance  provided  to  North  Eastern  States  for organising  fairs  and  festivals  under  Ministry  of  Tourism's  'Domestic Promotion & Publicity including Hospitality (DPPH)' Scheme

(Rs. in Lakh)

| Name of state     | Year     | Name of Fairs & Festivals                                                                                |   Amount sanctioned |   Amount released |
|-------------------|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| Assam             | 2016- 17 | CFA for Celebration of (i) Rass Mahotsav, Majuli (ii) Bodo National Festival (iii) Rongali Festival      |                  35 |                35 |
|                   | 2018- 19 | International Buddhist conference                                                                        |                  25 |                25 |
|                   |          | CFA for organizing Rongali festival                                                                      |                  25 |                25 |
|                   | 2021- 22 | Bhogali Festival                                                                                         |                  25 |                25 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 2014- 15 | Celebration of Nyokum Festival                                                                           |                  14 |                14 |
|                   | 2015- 16 | (i) Kameng River Eco- Tourism Festival (ii) Menchuka Adventure Festival and (iii) Orange Festival Dambuk |                  30 |                30 |
|                   | 2017- 18 | (i) Tawang Festival (ii) MenchukaAdventure Festival (iii) Orange Festival Dambuk                         |                  40 |                40 |
|                   | 2018- 19 | Basar Confluence 3.0 Festival                                                                            |                  20 |                20 |
|                   | 2019- 20 | CFA for organizing River Tribe's Angling Festival & Butterfly Meet at MIAO                               |                  50 |                50 |
|                   | 2020- 21 | Organizing Pedal to Pakke                                                                                |                  25 |                25 |
|                   | 2021- 22 | Easterly Essence Ledum Festival & Orange Festival                                                        |                  50 |                50 |

|           |          | of Music and Adventure                                        | of Music and Adventure        |       |       |
|-----------|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------|-------|
| Manipur   | 2014- 15 | Manipuri Festival Youth, Adventure& sports festival           | and Water                     | 50    | 50    |
|           | 2015- 16 | Manipur Sangai and Youth, Adventure Water Sports Manipur 2015 | Festival and Festival         | 50    | 50    |
|           | 2016- 17 | Manipur Sangai and Youth Adventure Water Adventure festival   | Festival, and sports          | 50    | 50    |
|           | 2017- 18 | Manipur Sangai and 'Youth Adventure Water Sports Festival     | Festival &                    | 50    | 50    |
|           | 2019- 20 | (i)Sangai Festival Adventure & Water festival                 | (ii)Youth Sports              | 50    | 50    |
| Meghalaya | 2016- 17 | Wangala Dance and Nongkrem Festival                           | Festival Dance                | 42.22 | 42.22 |
|           | 2017- 18 | CFA for the Wangala Festival, Nongkrem Festival and Festival  | Dance Dance Lasubon           | 50    | 50    |
|           | 2018- 19 | Wangala Dance and Nongkrem Festival                           | Festival Dance                | 50    | 50    |
|           | 2019- 20 | (i)Wangala Dance (ii)Nongkrem Festival                        | Dance                         | 50    | 50    |
|           | 2021- 22 | (i)Wangala Dance (ii)Nongkrem Festival                        | Dance                         | 50    | 50    |
| Mizoram   | 2014- 15 | Anthurium ThalfavangKut festival                              | Festival,                     | 50    | 50    |
|           | 2015- 16 | Celebration of Festival and Kut                               | Anthurium Thalfavang Festival | 50    | 50    |
|           | 2017- 18 | CFA for the Celebration of Winter Festival & Chapchar Kut     |                               | 50    | 50    |
|           | 2018-    | Organizing Chapchar                                           | Kut                           | 25    | 25    |

|          | 19       | Festival                                                                          |    |    |
|----------|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----|----|
|          | 2019- 20 | organizing Anthurium Festival & Winter Festival                                   | 50 | 50 |
|          | 2020- 21 | Anthurium Festival & Winter Festival                                              | 50 | 50 |
|          | 2021- 22 | Anthurium Festival & Winter Festival                                              | 50 | 50 |
| Nagaland | 2014- 15 | Celebration of Hornbil Festival, 2014                                             | 25 | 25 |
|          | 2016- 17 | Hornbill Festival                                                                 | 25 | 25 |
|          | 2017- 18 | CFA for organizing Sekrenyi Festival, Hornbill Festival, Rengma's Ngadah Festival | 50 | 50 |
|          | 2019- 20 | Thuwu-Ni Festival, Hornbill Festival & Sukhrunye Festival                         | 50 | 50 |
|          | 2021- 22 | Hornbill Festival & The Angami's Sekrenyi Festival                                | 30 | 30 |
| Sikkim   | 2015- 16 | (i) World Tourism Day, Gangtok, (ii) Sikkim Winter Carnival, Gangtok,             | 44 | 44 |
|          | 2016- 17 | World Tourism Day, Gangtok (ii) Celebration of Red Panda Winter Festival, Gangtok | 50 | 50 |
|          | 2017- 18 | (i),Red Panda Winter festival, Gangtok (ii) World Tourism Day, Gangtok            | 50 | 50 |
|          | 2018- 19 | CFA for World Tourism Day, Red Panda Festival , Gangtok                           | 50 | 50 |
|          | 2019- 20 | World Tourism Day, Gangtok & Red Panda Winter Festival                            | 50 | 50 |
|          | 2020- 21 | Red Panda Winter Carnival, Jorethang MagheyMela&Pelling Winter Tourism Festival   | 50 | 50 |
|          | 2021- 22 | (i) Cherry Temi Tea & Tourism Festival Temi Tea Gardens South                     | 50 | 50 |

|         |          | Sikkim (ii) Khangchendzonga Winter Carnival Festival (iii) JorethangMagheyMela                                                                                                                |    |    |
|---------|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----|----|
| Tripura | 2016- 17 | (i) Neermahal Festival at Rajghat, Melaghar in Sepahijala District (ii) Devali Festival at Maabari, Udaipur in Gomati District (iii) Pilak Festival at Julaibari Santirbazar in South Tripura | 18 | 18 |
|         | 2019- 20 | (i) Kharchi Mela Neermahal (ii) Diwali Mela                                                                                                                                                   | 42 | 42 |
|         | 2020- 21 | Bharat Bangla Festival                                                                                                                                                                        | 25 | 25 |

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