Lok Sabha Question No. 52 (STARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Preservation of Folk Songs
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 52 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.02.2016)

## PRESERVATION  OF FOLK SONGS

## *52 .   SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the All India Radio has taken up a special project to record lakhs of folk songs sung in various States on various occasions and preserve them for future generations and if  so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  present  status  of  the  said  project  along  with  the  numbers of folk songs preserved through this mission, State/UT-wise;
- (c)  the time by which the said project is likely to be implemented;
- (d)  the amount sanctioned and spent so  far on the said project; and
- (e)  whether the Government proposes to sell it commercially and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE; MINISTER OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.52  FOR  ANSWER  ON 26.02.2016

- (a):  Yes  Madam,  Prasar  Bharati  has  informed  that  All  India  Radio  has taken  a  special  project  'Public  Estates  Conservations  Mega  Project'  to record ceremonial songs sung across various states on various occasions, to be preserved for posterity.
- (b):    Till  date  7,407  ceremonial  songs  have  been  received  in  the  AIR Directorate  along  with  videography  thereof,  still  photographs,  musical notations, original scripts Hindi and English translations thereof.    Out of 7,407,  1741  recording  have  been  sent  to  AIR  Archives  for  preservation after completion of formalities. State-wise details of recording under 'Mega Project' are annexed.
- (c): The project has already started in November 2014 and likely to be completed during the 13 th  five year plan
- (d):  Details  of  budget  allocated  and  expenditure  incurred  are  given  as under:-

(in thousand  )

| S.No.   | Financial year   |   Budget Allocation |   Expenditure incurred |
|---------|------------------|---------------------|------------------------|
| 1.      | 2014-15          |                5463 |                   4685 |
| 2.      | 2015-16          |               50000 |                   4473 |
|         | Total            |               55463 |                   9158 |

- (e):  These  songs  will  be  broadcast  across  the  network  in  the  regular  time band for rural broadcast,  and also  preserved  in  AIR's  archives  which  may monetise it like other archival assets.

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Annexure

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO  IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 52 FOR ANSWE ON 26.02.2016

## State -wise details of recording under Mega Project

| S. No.   | Station name     | No. of Songs     |
|----------|------------------|------------------|
| 1.       | JAMMUANDKASHMIR  | 963              |
|          | U.P              | 4643             |
|          | HARYANA          | 393              |
|          | MADHYAPRADESH    | 130              |
|          | HIMACHAL PRADESH | 601              |
|          | PUNJAB           | 192              |
|          | MEGHALYA         | 5                |
|          | MANIPUR          | 194              |
|          | NAGALAND         | 135              |
|          | ANDAMAN&NICOBAR  | 59               |
|          | WEST BENGAL      | 61               |
|          | JHARKHAND        | 18               |
|          | CHHATISGARH      | 13 (Lok Gathaye) |
|          | TOTAL            | 7407             |