Lok Sabha Question No. 172 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-18
Subject: Development of Culural Centres in Rajasthan
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Balak Nath, Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 172

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2022

## DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL CENTRES IN RAJASTHAN

## † 172.   SHRI BALAK NATH: SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has chalked out any scheme for the development of cultural centres across the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including the State of Rajasthan;
- (b) whether the Union Government has set up Cultural Centres in various districts of  Rajasthan  including  Alwar  district  to  spread  awarenss  among  the  people about the cultural heritage of the country and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Union  Government  proposes  to  take  any  steps  for  promotion  of cultural development programmes in Rajasthan and to promote Indian culture;
- (d) if  so,  the  details of  the  plans being formulated in this regard and the financial assistance  provided  for  developing  cultural  centres,  State/UT-wise  including Rajasthan; and
- (e) whether the Government  proposes  to provide grant-in-aid to the State Governments in order to  organize three  days  programme in  memory of  Sant Kabir and if so, the details thereof particularly in respect of Rajasthan?

## ANSWER

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

(a) To  protect,  preserve  & promote  various  forms  of folk art and  culture 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. All States of the country are members of one or more ZCC. Annual grant-in-aid is released to these seven ZCCs for organizing various cultural activities and programmes all over India including Rajasthan.

Further, Ministry of Culture also administers a financial grant scheme by the name  of  'Financial  Assistance  for  Creation  of  Cultural  Infrastructure'  which  is  a Central Sector Scheme under which no State/UT-wise allocation of funds is made. The scheme provides for facilitating the setting up of new cultural spaces as well as upgradation  of  existing  spaces  like  Auditoriums,  Studio  Theatres  etc.  The  scheme has the following three components:

- i. Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres.
- ii. Financial Assistance for Tagore Cultural Complexes (TCCs).
- iii. Financial Assistance for Allied Cultural Activities.

These  cultural  spaces  work  as  centres  of  excellence  in  all  forms  of  art  and culture  with  facilities  and  infrastructure  for  stage  performances  (dance,  drama  and music), exhibitions, seminars, literary activities, film shows etc.

Details  of  the  budget  allocated  to  ZCCs  and  under  the  scheme  of  financial assistance  for  Creation  of  Cultural  Infrastructure  during  the  last  three  years  is  as under:

(Rs. in crore)

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   |   Budget allocated to ZCCs |   Budget allocated under the scheme of financial Assistance for Creation of Cultural Infrastructure |
|-----------|------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | 2019-20          |                      57.33 |                                                                                               31.9  |
|         2 | 2020-21          |                      40.09 |                                                                                                9.81 |
|         3 | 2021-22          |                      58.81 |                                                                                               17.28 |

(b) The West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC), headquartered at Udaipur of which Rajasthan is one of the member State caters to the cultural needs of various Districts of the State including Alwar District.

(c) & (d) For promotion of cultural development programmes and Indian culture in  Rajasthan,  WZCC  organizes  number  of  cultural  activities  /  programmes  on  a regular  basis  including  workshops,  exhibitions,  seminars  etc.  Under  the  National Exchange Program Scheme, WZCC organizes various events for which artists from other States are invited to participate in these programs. The Program Committee of WZCC which consists of representatives of all member States decides the calendar of events to be organized during the year.

- (e) Regular annual  grant-in-aid  is  provided  by  the  Government  to  the  ZCCs  for organizing  various  programmes/  activities  in  their  member  States.  However,  no State/  UT-wise  funds  are  released  for  the  purpose.  West  Zone  Cultural  Centre (WZCC),  Udaipur  and  North  Central  Zone  Cultural  Centre  (NCZCC),  Prayagraj organize programmes in the memory of Sant Kabir on a regular basis. This year the following  programmes  have  been  organized  by  these  ZCCs  under  Azadi  Ka  Amrit Mahotsav, in the memory of Sant Kabir:
- i. Bhakti Utsav organized by WZCC from 14 th to  16 th June, 2022 at Jaipur, Rajasthan.
- ii. Sant Kabir Mahotsav organized by NCZCC from 14 th to 16 th June, 2022 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
- iii. Sant Kabir Mahotsav organized by NCZCC from 15 th to 16 th June, 2022 at Maghar, Uttar Pradesh.