Lok Sabha Question No. 93 (STARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Promotion of Local Culture
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Virendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 93

## ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## PROMOTION OF LOCAL CULTURE

## †*93. SHRI VIRENDRA SINGH:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to formulate any scheme to conserve and promote the local culture particularly for the educational and social development of the tribals/forest dwellers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Government proposes to develop networking infrastructure in tribal areas of the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (b) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (b) IN RESPECT OF LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  93 FOR REPLY  ON  10.02.2025 REGARDING PROMOTION OF LOCAL CULTURE ASKED BY SHRI VIRENDRA SINGH

(a) To protect, promote & preserve various forms of folk/ tribal/ local art & culture, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis throughout the country for which they engage local folk/ tribal artists who showcase their talent during these programmes for which  they  are  paid  honorarium,  TA/DA,  boarding  &  lodging  and  local  transportation  to enable them to earn their livelihood. Besides, all the seven ZCCs organize regional festivals and National level festivals like Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) where local culture is promoted  through  participation  of  local  artists/  artisans.  Similarly,  'Octave-festival  of  the North East' is organized by ZCCs to promote local folk/ tribal culture of the North Eastern States, by way of providing an exclusive platform to the local artists and artisans of North Eastern Region.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India has taken various steps to conserve  and protect the tribal  culture,  heritage,  tradition  and  customs. MoTA  implements two schemes  namely  "Support  to Tribal Research Institutes" and "Tribal Research, Information,  Education,  Communication  and  Events  (TRI-ECE)"  under  which  various activities are undertaken to conserve and promote tribal culture, heritage, archives, artefacts, customs and traditions of the tribal communities. There are 29 Tribal Research Institutes in States/UTs and 01 National Tribal Research Institute in Delhi. Some of the initiatives taken are as under:

- i. To acknowledge the heroic and patriotic deeds of tribal people and to exhibit the rich cultural heritage of the region, the MoTA has sanctioned 11 Tribal Freedom Fighters Museums in 10 states.
- ii. Ministry  has  developed  searchable  digital  repository  where  all  research  papers, books,  reports  &  documents,  folk  songs  and  photos/videos  are  uploaded.  The repository currently has more than 10,000 photographs, videos and publications which are mostly done by Tribal Research Institutes.
- iii.  State  Tribal  festivals,  fairs  and  cultural  programs  are  funded  by  the  MoTA  to showcase glimpses of the rich cultural heritage of tribal people across the country through unique forms of folk dances, songs, cuisine, exhibition and demonstration of traditional skills in painting, art & craft, medicinal practices etc.
- iv.  Tribal  Co-Operative  Marketing  Development  Federation  of  India  (TRIFED) organizes Tribal Artisan Melas (TAMs) to identify new artisans and products at the sourcing level in States/Districts/Villages for expanding the tribal producers base.
- v. The  Ethnographic  Museums  of  the  States  preserve  and  showcase  rare  artefacts related to life and culture of various tribes.
- vi.  Under  "Tribal  Research,  Information,  Education,  Communication  and  Events (TRI-ECE)", reputed research institutes/ organizations/ universities have

undertaken various research studies/ publication of books/ documentations including audio-visual documentaries to fill the gap of research studies on tribal issues  and  promotion  of  rich  tribal  culture,  traditions  and  customs  as  well  as capacity  building  of  tribal  persons/  institutions  associated  with  tribal  affairs, dissemination of information and creation of awareness.

(b) Department  of  Telecommunications  (DoT),  Govt.  of  India  has  taken  a  number  of steps & projects with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN - erstwhile Universal Service Obligation  Fund)  for  providing  high  bandwidth  capacity,  mobile  services  and  broadband connectivity to remote & rural villages and islands in the country including tribal areas that currently lack coverage. Details of the major projects are as follows:

- i. BharatNet  project  is  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  broadband connectivity  to  all  the  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  and  villages.  The  infrastructure created under  BharatNet  project  is  a  national asset,  accessible  on  a  nondiscriminatory  basis  to  the  Service  Providers,  and  the  same  can  be  utilized  to provide  broadband  servicessuch  as  Wi-Fi  Hotspots,  Fibre  to  the  Home  (FTTH) connections, leased lines, dark fibre, backhaul to mobile towers etc. The Union Cabinet  has  approved  the  Amended  Bharat  Net  Program  (ABP)  under  Design, Built,  Operate  and  Maintain  (DBOM)  modelon  04.08.2023for  up-gradation  of existing  network  of  BharatNet  Phase-I&II  and  creation  of  network  in  balance 42,000 GPs (approx.), itsoperation and maintenance for 10 years. The connectivity to remaining non-GP villages (about 3.8 lakhs) is to be provided on demand basis from their respective GPs. BSNL has been nominated as the Project Management  Agency  for  FTTH  connections  to  the  households.  2,14,323  GPs have  been  made  service  ready  under  BharatNet  project  in  the  country  as  on 13.01.2025.
- ii. For provision of high-speed internet/data and Mobile Services (including 4G) in remote  &  rural  areas  of  the  country,  various  targeted  schemes/projects  like Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for mobile connectivity in the North Eastern Region, Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for Islands (Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands), Scheme for providing mobile services  in  Left  Wing  Extremism  (LWE) affected areas, Schemes for providing mobile services in Aspirational Districts, Scheme for providing mobile services in the  border  villages  and  other  priority  areas,  4G  Saturation  scheme  to  provide mobile coverage in all uncovered villages etc. have been implemented.
- iii.  Submarine optical fibre cable has been laid in August, 2020 between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2312 Km) for providing high speed internet/data connectivity  to  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands.  Submarine  optical  fibre  cable connectivity  has  also  been  laid  in  January,  2024between  Mainland  (Kochi)  and Lakshadweep  Islands  covering  a  distance  of  1869  km  (total  11  Islands  i.e. Kavaratti,  Kalpeni,  Agatti,  Amini,  Androth,  Minicoy,  Bangaram,  Bitra,  Chetlat, Kiltan  and  Kadmath).  225Km  optical  fibre  cable  network  has  been  created  in Lakshadweep Islands for provision of FTTH & other services. These optical fibre cable projects have facilitated faster roll out of mobile services (4G/5G) and other high-speed data services in the Islands.

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