Lok Sabha Question No. 535 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Financial Support to Folk Artists of Odisha
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Basanta Kumar Panda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 535

## ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FOLK ARTISTS OF ODISHA

## †535.  SHRI BASANTA KUMAR PANDA:

Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made any provision to provide financial support to folk artists and tribal artists in Odisha;
- (b) if so, the details of expenditure incurred by the Government under the said items during the last three years;
- (c) the number of the beneficiaries in Odisha, district-wise; and
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government to promote the art of the said artists and the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) To protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and tribal culture in the country, the Government of India has set up seven (7) Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters  at  Patiala,  Nagpur,  Udaipur,  Prayagraj,  Kolkata,  Dimapur  and  Thanjavur. Odisha  is  the  member  State  of  Eastern  Zonal  Cultural  Centre  (EZCC),  Kolkata,  an autonomous  organization  under  Ministry  of  Culture.  EZCC  organizes  various  cultural activities and programmes in Odisha throughout the year on regular basis for which annual grant-in-aid is provided to them. Folk and tribal artists are engaged by EZCC to showcase their  talents  in  these  cultural  programmes/activities  for  which  they  are  paid  honorarium, DA/TA, boarding & lodging etc. Besides, all the seven ZCCs also implement a number of schemes viz. Award to Young Talented Artistes, Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme, Theatre Rejuvenation Scheme, Research & Documentation Scheme, Shilpgram Scheme, OCTAVE, J&K Festivals and National Cultural Exchange Programme (NCEP) to help folk and tribal artists.

(b)  & (c) Details of expenditure incurred and number of beneficiaries in Odisha during the last three years are as under:

## (Rs. in lakh)

| 2019-20   | 2019-20              | 2020-21   | 2020-21              | 2021-22   | 2021-22              |
|-----------|----------------------|-----------|----------------------|-----------|----------------------|
| Amount    | No. of beneficiaries | Amount    | No. of beneficiaries | Amount    | No. of beneficiaries |
| 327.36    | 1069                 | 410.06    | 7538                 | 726.51    | 2072                 |

(d) The following steps have been taken to promote the art of the said artists:

- i. Under  Guru  Shishya  Parampara  Scheme,  training  is  imparted  to  the  younger generation in Indian Tribal art forms in which a senior Guru is engaged to train 15-20 Shishyas for a period of 1-2 years. Shishyas are also paid a stipend during the training period.
- ii. Workshops are conducted to promote and keep alive the dying and vanishing art forms of tribal communities to enable them to earn their livelihood.
- iii. EZCC  organizes  programmes  relating  to  tribal  &  folk  dances,  tribal  &  folk paintings, tribal & folk music, tribal & folk arts & crafts, tribal festivals, tribal & folk theatre etc. Besides, documentation of different tribal art forms is taken up regularly. Documented art forms are being utilized for promotion and dissemination of tribal art and culture among the younger generation.
- iv. Tribal costumes/musical instruments/daily use utensils/ deities of tribal communities of Odisha and other member States of EZCC have been displayed at the Srijani Shilpgram, Santiniketan, West Bengal. Tourists and visitors who visit the Shilpgram get an idea of the tribal culture of Odisha.
- v. Sending  troupes  from  Odisha  to  all  folk  and  tribal  festivals  across  the  country also helps in the promotion of tribal communities.
- vi. In all the craft fairs and festivals organized by EZCC, folk and tribal communities of Odisha sell products made by them during these programmes.

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