Lok Sabha Question No. 453 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Preservation of Folk Culture of Western Rajasthan
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-453

## ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## PRESERVATION OF FOLK CULTURE OF WESTERN RAJASTHAN

## 453. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  initiatives  to  preserve  folk  music,  dance  and oral traditions of western Rajasthan;
- (b) if so, the details of grants provided to artists from Barmer and Jaisalmer;
- (c) whether  any  documentation  or  digitisation  work  has  been  carried  out  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the measures taken to provide livelihood security to traditional performers?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) To preserve folk music, dance and oral traditions of the State of Rajasthan, the Government of India has set up West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) at Udaipur (Rajasthan). Rajasthan is also the member State of North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala and North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC), Prayagraj. These ZCCs cater to the cultural needs of its member States by organizing various cultural activities and programmes on a regular basis in their member States including the State of Rajasthan.

WZCC, NZCC & NCZCC engage folk artists from their member States including the State of Rajasthan & its districts (Barmer and Jaisalmer) during various cultural activities & programmes  organized  by  them  for  which  these  artists  are  paid  honorarium,  TA/DA, boarding & lodging, local transport etc. The grant-in-aid released to these ZCCs to organize various cultural programmes and activities in their member States including Rajasthan during the last three years is as under:

(Rs. in lakh)

| Sl. No.   | Year    |   WZCC, Udaipur |   NZCC, Patiala |   NCZCC, Prayagraj |
|-----------|---------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------|
| i.        | 2022-23 |         1452.49 |          276.51 |             301.51 |
| ii.       | 2023-24 |         1280.1  |         1067.79 |            3553.24 |
| iii.      | 2024-25 |         1129    |         1129    |            3227.66 |

- (c) The  following  art  forms  of  Rajasthan  have  been  documented/  digitized  by  WZCC, Udaipur:
- (d) WZCC through its various fair, festivals & schemes like National Cultural Exchange Programme, Theatre Rejuvenation, Guru Shishya Parampara, Documentation, Shilpdarshan & Shilpgram Utsav, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav and other various local festivals provides opportunities to traditional performers to showcase their respective art forms.

| Sl. No.   | Name of art form               |
|-----------|--------------------------------|
| i.        | Meera Sangeet                  |
| ii.       | Langa Gayan                    |
| iii.      | Meharam Nirguni Bhajan         |
| iv.       | Soulful Rikhiya Gayan          |
| v.        | Rajasthan Ke Mand Gayan        |
| vi.       | Jaisalmer Ke Sangarik Lok Geet |
| vii.      | Rajasthani Lokachar Geet       |
| viii.     | Kalbelia Dance                 |
| ix.       | Pabuji Ki Phad                 |
| x.        | Ravan Hattha                   |

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