Lok Sabha Question No. 923 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Promotion of Indian Folk Culture in Foreign Countries
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 923 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024

## PROMOTION OF INDIAN FOLK CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

ꝉ 923: Shri JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) The steps taken by the Government to promote Indian folk art, culture and music in the foreign countries; (b) The amount of honorarium being paid by the Government to help in improving the economic condition of folk artists; and

- (c) The number of artists from Dahod in the State of Gujarat out of the total number of artists who have received honorarium.

## ANSWER

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

- (a)     Ministry of Culture implements 'Global Engagement Scheme' to promote India's rich  cultural  heritage  and  enhance  India's  image  in  the  global  arena  in  a  concerted manner. Under the Scheme, the Festival of India (FoI) is organized abroad to promote people  to  people  connect  and  bilateral  cultural  contacts.  The  artists  from  diverse cultural  fields  such  as  Folk  Art  including  Folk  Music,  Folk  Dance,  Folk  Theatre  & Puppetry;  Classical  and  Traditional  Dance,  Experimental/  Contemporary  Dance, Classical/ Semi Classical Music, Theatre etc. perform in the 'Festivals of India' abroad.

The  Ministry  of  Culture  also  promotes  Indian  folk  art,  culture  and  music  abroad through  Grant-in-aid  to  Indo  -Foreign  Friendship  Cultural  Societies  under  which Grants  are  released  to  Indian  Foreign  Friendship  Cultural  Societies  in  foreign countries for organizing different cultural programmes and activities. During 2013-14 to 2023-24, total 62 FoIs have been held in different countries. Total

2348 artists including folk artists have participated in these FoIs.

(b)   The Folk artists are paid performance fee @ Rs. 35,000/- (to leader/main artist)

and @ Rs. 7000/-(to accompanying artist) for each performance in Festival of India. The Ministry of Culture also administers a Scheme by name of 'Scheme for financial assistance  for  veteran  artists'  under  which  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  old artistes (including  folk  artists)  aged  60  years  and  above  who  are  in  indigent circumstances  with  annual  income  upto  Rs.  72,000/.  These  artists  should  have contributed  significantly  in  their  active  years  or  are  still  contributing  towards  arts, culture  and  letters.  Under  this  Scheme  financial  assistance  of  upto  Rs.  6000/-  per month  is  provided  to  the  selected  artists  after  adjusting  the  amount  of  State  artist pension received, if any. (c)    Ministry  of  Culture  has  empaneled  artists/groups  under  various  art  forms.  The artists  are  selected  from  the  empaneled  list  for  performing  in  the  Festivals  of  India abroad. Currently, 15 artists/groups, including 11 folk artists/groups, from Gujarat, are empaneled with Ministry of Culture. However, no artist from Dahod is empaneled. No  artist  from  Dahod  is  receiving  financial  assistance  under  'Scheme  for  financial assistance for veteran artists'.

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