Lok Sabha Question No. 2574 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Promotion of Indian Art and Culture in Rajasthan
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Smt. Manju Sharma, Smt. Mahima Kumari Mewar, Shri Brijendra Singh Ola

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2574

## ANSWERED ON 17.03.2025

## PROMOTION OF INDIAN ART AND CULTURE IN RAJASTHAN

†2574. SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH OLA: SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR: SMT. MANJU SHARMA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the entire State of Rajasthan including Jhunjhunu district is an important place for Indian art and cultural heritage;
- (b) the details of the steps taken/ to be taken by the Government for promoting Indian Art & Culture particularly the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan during the last five years;
- (c) the details of the steps taken by the Government for promotion of different cultures of the country including Rajasthani culture and the folk artists of Rajasthan during the last five years;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  promoting/proposes  to  promote  the  folk  songs  and  folk dances of Rajasthan throughout the country, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  taken  special  measures  for  cultural  development  and preservation in Mewar, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) in the country with headquarters at Patiala (Punjab), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Udaipur (Rajasthan),  Prayagraj  (Uttar  Pradesh),  Kolkata  (West  Bengal),  Dimapur  (Nagaland)  and Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu) to promote Indian art and cultural heritage of the country including the State of Rajasthan.

West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC), Udaipur (Rajasthan) caters to the cultural needs of its member States including the State of Rajasthan (Jhunjhunu District). Rajasthan is also the  member State of North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala and North Central Zone Cultural  Centre  (NCZCC),  Prayagraj.  These  ZCCs  organize  various  cultural  activities  and programmes on regular basis in their member States including the State of Rajasthan.

The grant-in-aid released to WZCC, Udaipur; NZCC, Patiala and NCZCC, Prayagraj to  organize  various  cultural  programmes  and  activities  in  their  member  States  including Rajasthan during the last five years is as under:

(Rs. in lakh)

| Sl. No.   | Year    |   WZCC, Udaipur |   NZCC, Patiala |   NCZCC, Prayagraj |
|-----------|---------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------|
| i.        | 2019-20 |          923.32 |          785.27 |             864.39 |
| ii.       | 2020-21 |          705    |          613.41 |             446.44 |
| iii.      | 2021-22 |          653.92 |          530.76 |             984.7  |
| iv.       | 2022-23 |         1452.49 |          276.51 |             301.51 |
| v.        | 2023-24 |         1280.1  |         1067.79 |            3553.24 |

Number of activities conducted in Rajasthan and folk artists of Rajasthan benefitted by WZCC, NZCC & NCZCC during the last 5 years are as under:

| Sl. No.   | Year    |   No. of cultural activities/ programmes conducted in Rajasthan |   No. of folk artists of Rajasthan benefited |   Amount paid to these folk artists (Rs. in lakh) |
|-----------|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| i.        | 2019-20 |                                                             125 |                                         2495 |                                            174.04 |
| ii.       | 2020-21 |                                                              45 |                                          758 |                                             55.38 |
| iii.      | 2021-22 |                                                              77 |                                         1548 |                                             94.69 |
| iv.       | 2022-23 |                                                             142 |                                         3097 |                                            252.1  |
| v.        | 2023-24 |                                                             128 |                                         2368 |                                            223.26 |

Ministry of Culture runs Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant) Scheme under which financial support is provided to folk artists as well 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  runs  Cultural  Function  and  Production  Grant  Scheme (CFPG)  under  which  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  organizations  for  organizing Seminars, Conferences, Research, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of  Dance,  Drama-Theatre,  Music  etc.  The  grant  released  to  the  organizations  located  in Rajasthan under this scheme during the last three years is as under:

| Sl. No.   | Year    |   No. of organizations | Amount         |
|-----------|---------|------------------------|----------------|
| i.        | 2019-20 |                     34 | Rs. 40.70 lakh |
| ii.       | 2020-21 |                     38 | Rs. 28.31 lakh |
| iii.      | 2021-22 |                     33 | Rs. 63.81 lakh |
| iv.       | 2022-23 |                     48 | Rs. 81.16 lakh |
| v.        | 2023-24 |                     57 | Rs. 46.28 lakh |

The Office of Development Commissioner (Handicraft) under Ministry of Textiles, Govt.  of  India  implements  'National  Handicraft  Development  Programme  (NHDP)'  and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) which provides end to end support through marketing support, skill development, cluster development, formation of Producer Companies, direct benefit to artisans, infrastructural & technology support, research & development support etc. which include preservation and promotion of traditional crafts benefitting the artisans throughout the country including the State of Rajasthan.

- (d) Folk  dances  of  Rajasthan  like  Ghoomar,  Kalbelia,  KachoGhodi,Kathputli,  Chakri, Bhavai etc. and folk singing styles of Rajasthan like langha&Mangniyar, Paabuji Ki Phad, Veer TejaajiGaayan, Rikhiya Gayan are promoted by WZCC, NZCC & NCZCC.

A documentary film on Rikhiya Singing relating to Nomads from Western Rajasthan has also been made by WZCC.

- (e) Lavish  life  style  of  the  erstwhile  Mewar  is  showcased  in  the  museum  of  WZCC, Udaipur where an evening show namely 'Dharohar' is held on regular basis.

Chitrankan  -  a  Mewar  Painting  Workshop  is  also  organized  during  Shilpgram  Utsav, Shilpdarshan, Rangshala, Ritu Vasant and Malhar by WZCC.

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