Lok Sabha Question No. 1262 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Promotion of different forms of Arts, Culture and Heritage
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1262

ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## PROMOTION OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE

## 1262. SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the schemes being run by the Government to protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and culture as well as to promote the culture and heritage of the country;
- (b) the  details  of  the  financial  schemes  being  run  by  the  Government  to  support  the  folk artists of all genres of performing arts in Karnataka and the number of artists benefited from it; and
- (c) whether the Government has any special scheme to promote folk artists of Karnataka on the  national  and  international  platforms  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the financial  assistance  being  provided  by  the  Government  to  promote  the  traditional  fair festivals of Karnataka?

## ANSWER

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

(a) To protect, promote and preserve various  forms  of folk art  & culture  as  well as to promote the culture and heritage of 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.  These  ZCCs  organize  various  cultural  activities  and programmes on regular basis in their member States. The ZCCs also implement number of schemes  viz. Award  to  Young  Talented  Artistes,  Guru  Shishya  Parampara,  Theatre Rejuvenation,  Research  &  Documentation,  Shilpgram,  Octave,  and  National  Cultural Exchange Programme to promote the culture and heritage of their member States.

(b) Ministry of Culture runs Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant) Scheme under which financial support is provided to folk artists of all genres of performing arts viz. musical groups, dance groups, theatre groups including children theatre, music ensembles etc. Under the  scheme,  the  amount  of  assistance  for  Guru  (leader  of  the  Group)  is  Rs.  15,000/-  per month and for the Shishya is Rs. 2,000-10,000/- per month depending upon the age of the artist.

Ministry  of  Culture  also  administers  a  scheme  for  Financial  Assistance  to  Veteran Artists  under  which  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  the  eligible  veteran  artists  of  the country including the State of Karnataka. The objective of this scheme is to provide financial assistance of Rs. 6,000/- p.m. to the old artists and scholars aged 60 years and 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.

During  the  year  2024-25,  397  artists  of  Karnataka  have  been  benefited  under  this scheme.

Karnataka is a member State of South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), Thanjavur (an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture) who engages folk artists from the State of Karnataka during various cultural activities & programmes organized by them for which artists are paid honorarium, TA/DA, boarding & lodging, local transport etc. During the year 2024-25, 716 artists of Karnataka have been benefited by SZCC, Thanjavur.

(c) To promote the traditional fair festivals of the country including Karnataka, Ministry of Culture runs a scheme viz. Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPG) under which  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  NGOs/  Societies/  Trusts/  Universities  etc.    for organizing Seminars, Conferences, Research, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music etc. Under this scheme, the maximum grant is Rs. 5.00 lakh which can be increased to Rs. 20.00 lakh in exceptional cases.

Ministry  of  Culture  through  its  ZCCs  organizes  Rashtriya  Sanskriti  Mahotsavs (RSMs) at national level in the country by providing a platform to a large number of folk artists from all over India including the State of Karnataka who showcase their talents during the event. Till date, 14 RSMs and 04 Zonal Level RSMs have been organized by the Ministry of Culture.

Ministry of Culture also implements a scheme titled 'Global Engagement Scheme' to promote  India's  rich  cultural  heritage  and  enhance  India's  image  in  the  global  arena  in  a concerted  manner.  The  objective  of  the  Scheme  is  to  provide  artists  practicing  Indian  art forms, an opportunity to perform abroad under the banner of 'Festival of India'. Under the Scheme,  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.  Ministry  of  Culture  has  empanelled  a  number  of  artists/groups  under various art forms for performing in the Festivals of India abroad.

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