Lok Sabha Question No. 2573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Safeguarding the Cultural Heritage of the Siddi Community in Gujarat
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2573 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## SAFEGUARDING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE SIDDI COMMUNITY IN GUJARAT

## 2573. SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  in  coordination  with  the  State  Government  of  Gujarat  and concerned  agencies  has  undertaken  any  concrete  initiatives for the preservation, promotion  and  inter-generational  transmission  of  the  unique  art  forms,  folk  music, traditional dances and cultural heritage of the Siddi community in Gujarat and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  dedicated  schemes  for  training,  scholarships,  cultural  infrastructure,  digital archiving,  national/  international  exposure and  financial  support  to  Siddi  artists  are  in operation; and
- (c) the time-bound roadmap proposed to protect and sustain this endangered cultural heritage?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The Government of India has set up West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) at Udaipur (Rajasthan) for  the preservation, promotion and inter-generational transmission of the unique art forms, folk music, traditional dances and cultural heritage in its member States including the State of Gujarat. WZCC organizes various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis in collaboration with State Governments in its member States including the State  of  Gujarat.  WZCC  engages  artists  from  its  member  States  including  the  artists  from Siddi  community  during  various  cultural  activities  &  programmes  organized  by  them  for which they are paid honorarium, TA/DA, boarding & lodging, local transport etc.

There is no such scheme run by the Ministry of Culture for any particular community of  artists.  However,  they  are  part  of  the  various  festivals  and  programmes  organized  by WZCC and their performances are recorded digitally amongst other art forms.

Besides,  Ministry  of  Culture  organizes  Rashtriya  Sanskriti  Mahotsavs  (RSMs)  at national level through these ZCCs where a large number of folk & tribal artists including the artists from Siddhi community are engaged to showcase their talents. Till date, 14 RSMs and 04 Zonal Level RSMs have been organized by the Ministry of Culture across the country.

The details of cultural activities & programmes organized by WZCC in which artists from Siddi community were invited and expenditure involved therein are at Annexure .

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  627  artists/groups  under  various  art forms for performing in the Festivals of India abroad.

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## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2573 for 09.03.2026

Details of cultural activities & programmes organized by WZCC in which artists from Siddi community were invited and expenditure involved therein

| Sl. No.                         | Year    | Name of Programme                                   |   Amount (Rs. in Lakhs) |
|---------------------------------|---------|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 1 2 3                           | 2023-24 | Meri Maati Mera Desh and Har Ghar Tiranga Programme |                    1.2  |
| 1 2 3                           | 2023-24 | World Fishering Day                                 |                    0.36 |
| 1 2 3                           | 2023-24 | Zonal Sanskriti Mahotsav, Pune                      |                    2.01 |
| 4                               | 2023-24 | Shilpgram Utsav                                     |                    1.17 |
| 5                               | 2023-24 | Lokotsav                                            |                    1.52 |
| 6                               | 2023-24 | Maru Mahotsav                                       |                    0.78 |
| 7                               | 2023-24 | Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, Hyderabad             |                    2.96 |
| 8                               | 2023-24 | Daang Darbar                                        |                    0.72 |
|                                 |         | Total:                                              |                   10.72 |
| 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 | 2024-25 | All India Governors Conference                      |                    1.24 |
| 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 | 2024-25 | Tarang Shakti                                       |                    1.23 |
| 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 | 2024-25 | Pushkar Fair                                        |                    0.9  |
| 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 | 2024-25 | Shilpgram Utsav                                     |                    0.73 |
| 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 | 2024-25 | Camel Festival                                      |                    1.41 |
| 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 | 2024-25 | Lokotsav                                            |                    2.28 |
| 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 | 2024-25 | Lokanurjan Mela                                     |                    1.29 |
| 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 | 2024-25 | Daang Darbar                                        |                    1.14 |
| 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 | 2024-25 | Lokanurjan Mela                                     |                    1.25 |
| 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 | 2024-25 | Matsay Mahotsav                                     |                    1.3  |
|                                 | 2024-25 | Kota Mahotsav                                       |                    1.07 |
|                                 |         | Total:                                              |                   13.84 |
| 20                              | 2025-26 | WAVES 2025                                          |                    1.13 |
| 21                              | 2025-26 | Silvassa Book Fair 2025                             |                    0.55 |
| 22                              | 2025-26 | Yatra Paschimalap                                   |                    2.05 |
| 23                              | 2025-26 | Nareli Purnima                                      |                    0.77 |
| 24                              | 2025-26 | Varsa Sahyadricha Programme                         |                    1.3  |
| 25                              | 2025-26 | Lok Rang                                            |                    1.95 |
| 26                              | 2025-26 | Pushkar Fair                                        |                    0.98 |
| 27                              | 2025-26 | Vagad Mahotsav                                      |                    1.02 |
| 28                              | 2025-26 | Paschim Bharat Ki Vividhta Ka Utsav                 |                    2.99 |
| 29                              | 2025-26 | Shilpgram Utsav                                     |                    1.7  |
| 30                              | 2025-26 | National Swadesi Mahotsav                           |                    1.08 |
| 31                              | 2025-26 | Beneshwar Mela                                      |                    0.86 |
| 32 Aadi                         | 32 Aadi | Total:                                              |                   17.87 |