Lok Sabha Question No. 2107 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Cultural Engagement with Indian Origin Persons
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Arun Govil

- (a) Yes.

(b)  &  (c)  Ministry  of  Culture  signs  Cultural  Exchange  Programmes  (CEPs)  for  disseminating Indian art and culture across the globe. The Cultural Exchange programmes promote India's soft power for developing and strengthening India's inter-cultural relations with other countries. The CEPs facilitate cultural exchanges with other countries in different areas like music and dance, theatre, museums & science museums, libraries, archives, protection and conservation of historic monuments  and  archaeological  sites,  literature,  research  and  documentation,  festival,  among others.

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 'Festival of India' (FoI) is organized abroad to promote people to people connect and bilateral

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2107 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT WITH INDIAN ORIGIN PERSONS

†2107.  Shri Arun Govil:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether it is a  fact  that  more  than  three  crore  people  of  Indian  origin  living  in  America, Canada,  Britain,  France,  Australia,  Burma,  Sri  Lanka,  Bangladesh,  South  Africa,  Gulf countries, Arab countries and Former Union of Soviet Russia along with certain people form second, third and fourth  generation in these countries who are eager to  maintain religious and cultural relations with India;
- (b) If so, the details of steps being taken by the Government to maintain religious, linguistic and cultural bondages with such countries and the people of Indian origin living there; and
- (c) the role likely to be played by the Indian Embassies in this task?

## ANSWER

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

cultural  contacts.  The  artists  from  diverse  cultural  fields  perform  in  the  'Festival  of  India' abroad. in-aid to Indo-foreign Friendship Cultural Societies in Foreign countries for organizing different

The Ministry of Culture also promotes Indian folk art, culture and music abroad through Grantcultural programmes and activities.

Ministry of External Affairs has a programme called Promotion of Cultural Ties with Diaspora (PCTD) under which limited amount of funds are extended to Indian Missions/Posts abroad to encourage the Indian Diaspora overseas to organise cultural programmes with a view to connect them  to  their  roots.  PCTD  was  started  in  2005  and  under  this  initiative  Ministry  through provision of grants to Indian Missions/Posts abroad supports their initiatives aimed  at strengthening  ties  with  the  Overseas  Indian  Community;  to  preserve,  maintain  and  showcase their Indian heritage and culture. The scheme aims to nourish and strengthen the cultural bonds between  India  and  its  Diaspora  and  to  reinforce  the  cultural  identity  of  the  persons  of  Indian origin. The Ministry has provided funds to 66 Indian Missions/Posts across the globe under this scheme for Current Financial Year for engaging with the diaspora to showcase Indian culture, heritage and legacy.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), an autonomous organization under Ministry of  External  Affairs,  promotes  Indian  culture  worldwide  through  its  Cultural  Centres  and Missions/Posts  abroad.  Activities  conducted  by  them  include inter-alia, teaching  of  Yoga, Dance, Music (vocal and instrumental), Sanskrit and Hindi; organising/supporting Conferences/ Seminars/ Workshops in different fields of Indian culture; supporting Chairs of Indian Studies in foreign  universities;  gifting  of  busts/statues  of  Mahatma  Gandhi  and  other  national  icons, exchanging visual arts exhibitions, celebrating  International Day of Yoga, Ayurveda Day and Indian  festivals,  promoting  Indian  films,  hosting  visitors  under  various  Visitors  Programmes (Academic/Distinguished/ Important/Gen. Next Democracy Network); and sponsoring scholarships to foreign students under different scholarship schemes.   ICCR has also concluded MoUs with various State Governments to promote their culture abroad and to facilitate cultural exchanges with foreign countries. ICCR also hosts incoming foreign cultural troupes to enable Indians to discover various foreign countries.

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