Lok Sabha Question No. 3747 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Promotion of South Indian Culture Heritage
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3747

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## PROMOTION OF SOUTH INDIAN CULTURE HERITAGE

## 3747. SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any comprehensive policy for the promotion of South Indian cultural heritage including classical arts, literature, language and traditional practices and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)   whether special financial assistance is being provided for promotion of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam cultural festivals at national and international levels and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  promote  classical  art  forms  such  as Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi and Yakshagana through cultural institutions and academies and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)   whether cultural exchange programmes are being organised to showcase South Indian traditions in other parts of the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (e)   whether the Government proposes to establish dedicated South Indian cultural centres or museums in major cities and if so, the details along with timelines thereof; and
- (f)   whether financial  grants  are  provided  to  folk  artists  and  traditional  performers  facing livelihood challenges and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Government of India promotes South Indian cultural heritage through autonomous bodies under the Ministry of Culture, including the Kalakshetra Foundation (Chennai), Sangeet  Natak  Akademi,  and  the  South  Zone  Cultural  Centre  (Thanjavur).  These organisations  undertake  a  wide  range  of  programmes  and  activities  such  as  training, performances,  research,  documentation,  workshops,  festivals  for  the  promotion  and preservation of cultural traditions in the region. Key initiatives include Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music training, support for folk and tribal art forms, and documentation and promotion of traditional arts such as Koodiyattam, Pulikali, Shadow Puppetry, and Tholpavakoothuetc.
- (b) The Government of India provides financial support to its autonomous bodies under the Ministry  of  Culture  to  promote  South  Indian  cultural  traditions.  The  South  Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, hosts festivals like Onam, Dasara, Pongal, and Sankranti, supporting folk and tribal artistes with honorarium, travel allowance and accommodation. Similarly, the Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, organizes events such as  Sunadam,  the  Kathakali  Festival,  the  Annual  Art  Festival,  and  'Remembering Rukmini Devi' to promote classical arts, funded through government grants.
- (c) The Government of India, through its autonomous organisations under the Ministry of Culture,  actively  promotes  classical  art  forms  such  as  Bharatanatyam,  Kathakali, Kuchipudi,  and Yakshagana. The  South  Zone  Cultural  Centre  organizes  festivals  and programmes in its Member States, engaging around 706 classical artistes in the past two years,  while  the  Kalakshetra  Foundation  and  Sangeet  Natak Akademi  further  support these traditions nationwide through performances, workshops, and collaborative cultural initiatives.
- (d) The Government of India, through its autonomous organizations under the Ministry of Culture, promotes cultural exchange and showcases South Indian traditions nationwide. The Sangeet Natak Akademi invites and presents art forms from different parts of the country, including South Indian performing arts, in its festivals, while the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), Thanjavur, actively participates in and organizes major cultural programmes beyond its Member States (details at Annexure A).
- (e)    The  Government  of  India  has  already  established  the  South  Zone  Cultural  Centre  at Thanjavur,  Tamil  Nadu,  to  cater  the  cultural  needs  of    its  Member  States-Andhra Pradesh,  Telangana,  Karnataka,  Kerala,  and  Tamil  Nadu  and  Union  TerritoriesAndaman  &  Nicobar  Islands,  Lakshadweep,  and  Puducherry.  The  Sangeet  Natak Akademi promotes classical Sanskrit theatre via the Kutiyattam Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram.  Ministry  of  Culture  provides  financial  assistance  under  the Museum Grant Scheme for establishing  new  museums  and  modernising,  developing, and digitising existing ones. Details of the scheme are available at the official website of the Ministry https://culture.gov.in/
- (f) The  Government  of  India,  through  the  Sangeet  Natak  Akademi,  provides  financial assistance  to  cultural  institutions  under  the  scheme  'Financial Assistance  to  Cultural Institutions'  to  support  training  in  music,  dance,  and  drama,  and  to  encourage  new productions  such  as  plays  and  ballets. The  South  Zone  Cultural  Centre  also  supports participating  artists  by  providing  honorarium  ₹3,000  for  the  first  day,  ₹1,500  for  the second, and ₹900 for remaining days. Additionally, the Ministry also provides financial assistance to artists through various schemes. The details of funds disbursed under these schemes for last three years are provided at Annexure B.

## South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), Thanjavur: Participation in Major Cultural Programmes Beyond Member States

|   Sl. No. | Name of the festival                                    | State/U.T                   |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|         1 | Kashi Tamil Sangamam (1 to 4 Editions)                  | Uttar Pradesh               |
|         2 | Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam                               | Gujarat                     |
|         3 | Rashtriya Ekta Diwas                                    | Gujarat                     |
|         4 | Vividhta Ka Amrit Mahotsav (2nd Chapter)                | New Delhi                   |
|         5 | Pongal Festival                                         | New Delhi                   |
|         6 | Sankranti Festival                                      | New Delhi                   |
|         7 | Maha Kumbh Mela                                         | Uttar Pradesh               |
|         8 | Island Tourism Festival                                 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
|         9 | 10 th Chilika Shelduck International Folk Carnival 2024 | Odisha                      |
|        10 | Floral Tributes to Bhagwan Birsa Munda                  | New Delhi                   |

Annexure- B Details  of  funds  disbursed  and  Number  of  Beneficiaries  (Individuals  /Organizations)  under

## various schemes administered

| S. No.   | Name of the Scheme                                                                | Financial Year            | Financial Year      | Financial Year            | Financial Year      | Financial Year            | Financial Year      |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------|---------------------|
|          |                                                                                   | 2022-2023                 | 2022-2023           | 2023-2024                 | 2023-2024           | 2024-25                   | 2024-25             |
|          |                                                                                   | Number of Benefic- iaries | Amount (Rs. In Cr.) | Number of Benefic- iaries | Amount (Rs. In Cr.) | Number of Benefic- iaries | Amount (Rs. In Cr.) |
| 1.       | Financial Assistance for Promotion of Guru Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant)    | 1213                      | 86.22               | 1882                      | 77.95               | 1041                      | 84.03               |
| 2.       | Cultural Function and Production Grant                                            | 2135                      | 32.75               | 2242                      | 24.55               | 1710                      | 32.19               |
| 3.       | Scheme For the Award of Fellowship to Outstanding Persons in The Field Of Culture | 980                       | 13.62               | 1141                      | 11.19               | 928                       | 11.89               |
| 4.       | Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields            | 395                       | 1.18                | 1507                      | 4.52                | 1077                      | 3.25                |
| 5.       | Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists                                          | 3651                      | 18.59               | 3811                      | 28.96               | 4636                      | 26.09               |

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