Lok Sabha Question No. 2346 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Scheme for Upliftment of Scheduled Castes
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2346 ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## SCHEMES FOR UPLIFTMENT OF SCHEDULED CASTES

## †2346.    SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any special schemes or programmes are being implemented by the Government for the promotion of cultural upliftment, art, heritage and traditions  of the Scheduled Castes;
- (b) the  details  of  the  total  amount  of  funds  allocated  in  the  budget  for  cultural  projects  related  to Scheduled Castes during the last four years (2021-2025) including its utilization , State-wise;
- (c) whether  special  training, grants  or  performance  opportunities  have  been  provided  by  the Government for the preservation of Scheduled Castes artists, theatre groups, folk traditions etc., if so the details thereof;
- (d) whether museums, cultural events, research centres or archives for the Scheduled Castes have been set up;
- (e) if so the details thereof including their locations and their status; and
- (f) whether  any  monitoring  mechanism  or  evaluation  system  is  in  place  to  ensure  effective implementation of the schemes of the Government for the Scheduled Castes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a)  No, Sir. The Ministry of Culture is implementing Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY), an umbrella Scheme  consisting  a  number  of  Central  Sector  Schemes  under  which  financial  assistance  is provided  to  eligible  cultural  organizations/  individuals  working  in  the  field  of  performing  arts including  artists  of  Scheduled  Castes  across  the  country.  The  brief  of  these  schemes  is  given  at Annexure - I .
- (b)  KSVY is a Central Sector Scheme, there is no provision of state-wise allocation of funds. However, the  details  of  funds  allocated  under  all  schemes  and  its  sub-components  of  Kala  Sanskriti  Vikas Yojana including Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes Head during last four years is as under:
- (c) Under the Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojna (KSVY), grants have been released for imparting training and  providing  cultural  opportunities  to  artists,  including  the  Scheduled  Castes  artists,  theatre groups, folk tradition.
- (d)  No, Sir.
- (e) Does not arise.
- (f) The utilization of funds is monitoring on the basis of submission of Utilization Certificates as per General Financial Rule (GFR) Rule -2017, duly certified by a Chartered Accountant, Bill vouchers and  other  evidentiary  proofs  such  as  photos/videos,  completion  certificates  etc.  Apart  from  this, there is also provision of on-site physical inspections by the officials of the Ministry to monitor the progress and proper utilization of funds.

| Financial Year   |   Funds Allocated (Rs. In Cr.) |   Fund Utilized (Rs. in Cr.) |
|------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------|
| 2021-22          |                         177.3  |                       177.3  |
| 2022-23          |                         214.32 |                       214.32 |
| 2023-24          |                         218.65 |                       218.65 |
| 2024-25          |                         207.24 |                       207.24 |

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Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2346 for 04.08.2025

## KALA SANSKRITI VIKAS YOJANA (KSVY):

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY) is an umbrella scheme under Ministry of Culture for the promotion of art and culture in the country. It has the following sub-schemes under which financial assistance is provided to cultural organizations/individuals:

1. Financial Assistance for Promotion of Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant)
2. Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture.
3. Scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship for Promotion of Art and Culture.
4. Financial Assistance for Construction of Tagore Cultural Complexes (TCC)
5. Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists.
6. Seva Bhoj Yojana
7. National Gandhi Heritage Site Mission
8. National Award Scheme

The brief of sub-schemes and their components under which financial assistance is provided to  eligible  cultural  organizations  /  individuals  working  in  the  field  of  drama  /  theatre,  music, dance and other performing arts across the country is as under:-

## 1. FINANCIAL  ASSISTANCE  FOR  PROMOTION  OF  GURU-SHISHYA  PARAMPARA (REPERTORY GRANT)

The objective of this 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 in the field of theatre and 1 Guru and maximum 10 Shishyas in the field of  music  &  dance.  The Amount  of  Assistance  for  Guru  is  Rs.15000/-  per  month  and  for Shishya, the same is Rs.2000-10000/-per month depending upon the age of artist.

## 2.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTION OF ART AND CULTURE: This scheme has following sub-components :

## i. Financial Assistance to Cultural organizations with National Presence

The objective of this scheme component is to promote and support cultural organisations with national presence involved in promotion of art and culture throughout the country. This grant is given to such organisations that have a properly constituted managing body, registered in India; having a pan-India character with national presence in its operation; adequate working strength; and have spent 1 crore or more during 3 of the last 5 years on cultural  activities.  The  quantum  of  grant  under  this  scheme  is  Rs.1.00  crore  which  can  be increased to Rs.5.00 crore in exceptional cases.

## ii. 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 quantum of grant under this scheme is Rs.5 Lakh for an organization which can be increased to Rs. 20.00 lakhs in exceptional cases.

## iii. 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 grant is Rs.10.00 lakh per year for an organization which can be increased to Rs. 30.00 lakh in exceptional cases.

## iv. 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

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

The objective of this 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.

## vi. Domestic Festivals and Fairs

The objective of this scheme is to provide assistance for holding the 'Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs'  organized  by  Ministry  of  Culture.  Rashtriya  Sanskriti  Mahotsavs  (RSMs)  are conducted through Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) where a large number of artists from all over the country are engaged to showcase their talents. From November, 2015 onwards, fourteen (14) RSMs have been organized by Ministry of Culture in the country.

## 3. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 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) etc.  Under this scheme component, the financial assistance for any project will normally be up to a maximum of Rs. 15.00 crore. Central financial assistance would be 90% of the total approved project cost and remaining 10% of the total approved project cost will  be  borne  by  the  recipient  State  Govt./NGO  or  concerned  organization  for  NER  Projects and except NER, there is 60:40 ratio for central assistant and state share (matching share).

## 4.   SCHEME  OF  SCHOLARSHIP  AND  FELLOWSHIP  FOR  PROMOTION  OF  ART  AND CULTURE: The scheme consists of following three components:

## 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. The Fellowship is released in four equal six monthly installments.

## 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.  The  Scholarship  is  released  in  four  equal  six  monthly installments.

## 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. The Fellowship is released in four equal six monthly installments.

## 5.       FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERAN ARTISTS

The  objective  of  this  Scheme  is  to  provide  financial  assistance  maximum  upto Rs.6.000/- p.m. to the old artistes and scholars aged 60 years above having annual income not exceeding Rs.72,000/- who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters etc.  In the event of death of the beneficiary, the financial assistance is transferred to his/her spouse.

## 6 . Seva Bhoj Yojna

Under the Scheme of 'Seva Bhoj Yojna' 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.

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